The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Thursday evening
declared controversial businessman Jimoh Ibrahim the candidate of the
Peoples Democratic Party PDP in the forthcoming governorship election in
Ondo state.
The announcement was made in a statement Signed by the commission’s
Secretary, Augusta Ogakwu.
Eyitayo Jegede and Jimoh Ibrahim Ibrahim who belongs to the Modu Sheriff
faction of the PDP replaces Eyitayo Jegede who was the candidate of the
Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the party.
Meanwhile, an Akure High Court yesterday restrained INEC from substituting
the name of Eyitayo Jegede as candidate of the PDP.
T
he Sen Makarfi faction of the PDP had approached the court to seek an
exparte order to stop the move by Jimoh Ibrahim to become the flag bearer
of the party.
But in the advisory, INEC indicated that it acted on an earlier directive
by the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, which said Jimoh
Ibrahim’s name should be announced as candidate of the PDP.
In his ruling on an application filed by the Chairman and Secretary of the
PDP in Ondo State, Prince Biyi Poroye and Ademola Genty and others in Osun
and Oyo respectively, Justice Okon Abang held that INEC has no reason to
reject Jimoh Ibrahim, whose name was submitted by the plaintiffs.
However, Justice William Olamide of the Akure High Court, while ruling on
the exparte motion, yesterday, said that it would be out of order for INEC
to replace or substitute Eyitayo Jegede’s name while the motion on notice
was still pending.
According to him, such decision would contravene the principles of
“equity, justice and fairness.”