2023: Court nullifies PDP Ekiti Central Senatorial District primary election
The Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti has nullified the primary election conducted by the PDP for Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Newsflash Nigeria learnt.
The judge ordered the PDP to conduct a fresh primary within 14 days.
Lateef Oladimeji Ajijola won the PDP Central Senatorial District primary election in May but the court nullified the primary election on Thursday, November 26, saying Ajijola was not validly elected in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
Newsflash Nigeria learnt that one of the aspirants for the senatorial position, Henry Olukayode, approached the court challenging the emergence of Ajijola and that the election did not take place at the venue of the primary.
The plaintiff, Olukayode, challenged the defendant’s election on the ground that did not in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and prayed the court nullify the exercise and give every aspirant equal opportunity to test their popularity.
The Judge said all the complaints made by the plaintiff (Henry Olukayode) were substantial and nullified the election following the primary election conducted in the state by PDP in May and did not in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022. The court ordered a fresh primary within 14 days.
Reacting, the Candidate of PDP in Ekiti Central Senatorial district, Ajijola has chided the court verdict that invalided his candidacy, alleging he was not a party to the lawsuit.
According to Ajijola in his words “My right was trampled upon by the court as I was not allowed to be joined in the suit, I actually approached the court to allow me to be a party to the suit as a candidate, but the court disallowed me, that’s the wrong abbinitio, as my fundamental right has been trampled upon”.
“I don’t have the popularity problem, I’m prepared to undergo another primary, I’m prepared to obey the court ruling since the court in its wisdom has ordered a fresh primary”.
Ajijola while reacting to the orchestrated verdict urged his supporters to remain calm as nothing to be worried about, the Senatorial hopeful further informed that the details of the court ruling were still sketchy at the time of filling this report, noting that the party will study the court ruling carefully and take appropriate action.