Oyo 2023: Court dismisses suit challenging Ajimobi’s candidature

Justice U.N. Agomoh of a Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo state on Tuesday struck out a suit challenging the candidature of Mr Idris Abolaji Abiola-Ajimobi, son of the late former Governor Abiola Ajimobi after the same was withdrawn by the claimant who instituted the matter.

Recalled that on 26th May 2022, Idris Abiola-Ajimobi won the primary election to represent the All Progressives Congress (APC) Ibadan Southwest II State Constituency at the upcoming House of Assembly general election in 2023 after the duo of Mr Michael Famurewa and Mr Olawale Ayilara withdrew in his honour.

The primary election, monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was conducted within the premises of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, (NRC) Aleshinloye, Ibadan.

According to Mega Icon Magazine checks, the case with suit number FHC/IB/CS/96/2022  was instituted by Mr Habeeb Balogun against  the son of the late former governor of Oyo state and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on 10th June 2022.

In a chat with an APC chieftain who confided in our reporter, he disclosed that the claimant, Balogun sought to move the court to declare that Idris Abiola-Ajimobi was not lawfully nominated as the House of Assembly candidate of Ibadan Southwest State Constituency II, thus by implication, that the court should set aside the said nomination.

But, the APC candidate, Idris Abiola-Ajimobi through his lawyers, Olamiji Martins and Adedayo Aborisade of Marvic Alpha LP had filed a defence, maintaining that out of the three aspirants who contested the same position, two withdrew voluntarily for him while the claimant, Balogun chose to boycott the election.

Ajimobi further contended that the election was witnessed by INEC, adding that the Returning Officer for the primary election, who represented the party duly wrote a report to that effect.

Ajimobi’s lawyers via a Notice of Preliminary Objection also challenged the suit on the ground that the matter was statute barred having been filed outside the fourteen days purview provided by the Electoral Act 2022. The same argument was also canvassed by APC’s Counsel, Kazeem Gbadamosi SAN whilst the electoral umpire which was represented by Mr Akerele maintained neutrality in the matter filing no process.

Justice Agomoh, after hearing the submission of the claimant’s counsel, R.T.A Raji Esq, who was represented by John Akinwole Esq, on his intention to withdraw the suit, which was confirmed by Marvic Alpha LP, solicitors to Idris Ajimobi, Kazeem Gbadamosi SAN of the APC and Akerele of INEC, however, dismissed the suit challenging the nomination of the late governor’s son.

This development has further validated the primary election that produced Idris Abiola-Ajimobi as the Ibadan Southwest II State Constituency candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).