The Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised candidates of the Buruji Kasahmu
faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state as contestants for
the 2019 elections.
In a letter dated October 25,
Okechukwu Ndeche, the commission’s acting secretary, told Uche Secondus,
national chairman of the PDP, that the decision was based on a court verdict.
The PDP had expelled Kashamu,
senator representing Ogun east, and dissolved the faction loyal to him led by
Adebayo Dayo.
But the senator went to court and
got a ruling in his favour. On October 2, a federal high court in Abeokuta had
ordered INEC to accept and process the list of candidates and delegates
submitted to it by the Dayo-led faction.
In its letter, INEC said it would
recognise candidates of the Dayo faction unless another court sets aside the
order.
”The Federal High Court in the
matters ordered the Commission to recognise Adebayo Dayo led State Executive
Committee of PDP in Ogun State and receive list of candidates for the 2019
Governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly Elections from the
said committee,” the letter read in part.
“Consequently, the Commission
hereby notes the decisions of the Federal High Court in the above referred
cases and will publish the lists of candidates submitted by the Adebayo Dayo
led State Executive Committee of Ogun State pursuant to the Orders of the
Federal High Court until they are set aside.”
Meanwhile, in a telephone
interview with TheCable, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP spokesman, said the Dayo-led
faction is not recognised by the party because it did not participate in the
primary election in the state.
“INEC cannot, under our electoral
law, accept nomination from any state chapter. The Buruji group did not collect
form from the national secretariat of PDP at all. They did not participate in
the primary election process of the PDP,” he said.
“How did they have nomination
form from our party when they did not buy from us? They are in INEC as I am
talking to you now. They are trying to smuggle in the names of their nominees.
INEC rejected their form after it discovered that their nominations were not
endorsed by the national chairman and national secretary. It’s a provision of
the law. There is nothing they can do about it.”
However, Rotimi Oyekanmi,
spokesman of INEC chairman, said that by recongising the faction of Kashamu,
the commission only obeyed a court judgement.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com