2 weeks ago
13 ARTICLE AD
An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, the state capital, on Thursday, dismissed the suit challenging the candidacy of Mr Olugbenga Edema as the candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party for the November 16 governorship election in the state.
One Michael Akintan and Mrs Kemi Fasua approached the court seeking to disqualify Edema. In the suit filed by their counsel, Mr Monday Mawah, the plaintiffs sought injunctive and declaratory reliefs, including a perpetual injunction to restrain Edema from presenting himself as a member and candidate of the NNPP in the state for the November 16 governorship election.
However, the defendant, Edema, and his running mate in the election, Mr Rotimi Adeyemi, through their lawyer, Mr Rotimi Olorunfemi, asked the court to dismiss or strike out the suit for constituting a gross abuse of the court process.
Olorunfemi argued that the suit should have been filed at the Federal High Court, as it was a pre-election matter.
He stated that the issue of jurisdiction was fundamental to the competence of the court to adjudicate on the matter before it.
“Since the court has no jurisdiction, the case should be dismissed with costs against the claimants,” he said.
After hearing the arguments of both counsels, the court held that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
In her judgment, Justice Oluyemi Osadabay struck out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.
In his reaction, Edema, who is a former member of the state House of Assembly, said the judgment had resolved the issue of whether he was a member or a candidate of the NNPP.
He said, “We knew many of our adversaries were hoping to divide us. But thank God, apart from this court’s judgment, we have come together as a party, united as one family. So, we are going into this election as one united family of the NNPP.”
“To the glory of God, the people of the NNPP can rest assured that their candidate is now on the ballot in the eyes of the law. Come November 16, we will win with the support of the people of NNPP and with God’s guidance.”
