The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Osun State has written the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the crisis tearing the
party apart in the state just as it expressed shock at the blatant
disobedience to court orders by the electoral body.
In a letter dated July 12th, 2018 and signed by two of applicants to the
suit filed at the Osun State High Court, Alhaji Rasheed Mayowa and Chief
Azeez Alakinde-Ismaila and addressed to INEC National Chairman, the party
explained that all the congresses done by the Senator Iyiola Omisore’s
group were against court orders.
While attaching the two separate court rulings barring the Omisore’s group
from conducting any congress and copied same to the state Commissioner of
Police, the Chief Ademola Ishola faction of the SDP urged INEC to abide by
the directives of the court by
Part of the letter reads, “In spite of the preservative orders of
Honourable Court made on the 29th day of June, 2018, the defendants
proceeded with the ward congresses in Osun State on the 30th of June, 2018
and 2nd of July, 2018 of local government congresses. The untoward and
unbecoming attitude of the respondents including INEC did not only
constitute disobedience to the order of the Court, but affront as well.
“Consequent upon the insolence and inimical effrontery of the defendants
towards the order of the , court made on the 29th of June 2018, we filed a
motion on notice dated 2nd day of July, 2018 praying the court for an
order of mandatory reversal of the congresses held by the respondents in
contravention of the order of the court.
“On the 3rd day of July when the matter came up, the court delivered a
ruling in which the court maintained that ‘all orders made earlier however
remain valid and have not been discharged’.
“In spite of the ruling of this court, on the 2rd day of July, 2018, the
respondents held another congress on 7th day of July, 2018. It is
important to note that the orders of courts are meant to be obeyed and any
grievance towards the order can be expressed by appealing against the said
order.
“The respondents, including INEC in the above referred suits have not
appealed against the order and the ruling of the court but rather
disrespectful disobeyed the preservative orders and rulings of the court,
which did not portray the commission in good image.
“In the light of this, it is apposite to state that we are still in office
as part of the state executives and are ready to perform our duties and
responsibilities as contained in our constitution. We humbly implore you
to ensure that the commission obeys the court orders”, they stated.