There appears to be no end in sight to the crisis rocking the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State as a Court case, aiming to sack the Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe-led State Working Committee (SWC) has commenced.
The suit, number HAD/02/2013 filed by Mr. Akinbowale Omole, who contested party chairmanship position with Chief Ogundipe was heard on Monday, June 24, 2013 by Justice John Adeyeye of the Ekiti State High Court, Ado-Ekiti. It was adjourned till July 17, 2013 for further hearing.
During the congress now being disputed, Omole had scored 310 votes while Ogundipe scored 318 votes.
Joined as defendants in the case are; the PDP, Hon. Tunde Odusina and Princess Iyabo Fakunle, Chairman and Secretary of the Transition and Congress Committee (TRCC) respectively. Others are former Zonal Chairman of the PDP, Chief Segun Oni, State Chairman, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, Secretary, Dr. T.K.O Aluko, Deputy Chairman, Hon. Femi Bamisile, Mrs Busola Oyebode, Taye Olatunji, Alhaji Ganiyu Bankole and Hon. Kola Adefemi.
Omole, a legal practitioner said in the 51 Paragraph Affidavit he deposed to in support of the Originating Summon that on the basis of zoning; the State Secretary, Dr. Aluko, Deputy Chairman, Hon. Bamisile and Legal Adviser, Hon. Kola Adefemi.
“Mrs Busola Oyebode, who emerged as Women Leader, was disqualified under the party’s constitution because she was the Labour Party (LP) House of Assembly candidate for Efon Local Government in the 2011 general elections. Mrs Oyebode was therefore ineligible to contest because as at June 22, 2011, she was of LP, and no waiver from the PDP to hold any office in the party.
“Alhaji Ganiyu Bankole, who emerged as South Senatorial Chairman was on reprimand/suspension for one year and was unfit to contest any position in the party,” Omole averred.
In the Written Address filed by his counsel, Mr J. J. Tijani, Omole argued that “the Election Appeal Panel set up by the PDP National Secretariat came out with a report which not only concluded that the election was not ‘the true reflection of the mandate of the entire people of Ekiti PDP’ but same was an aberration of an election.”
Omole argued further; “Notwithstanding the findings of the appeal panel, borne out of the 1st Defendants (PDP) internal structure of resolving issues of this nature, the 1st Defendant chose to look the other way, thereby truncating the wishes of the majority of the party which is supposed to democratic in all ramifications.”
He is therefore seeking; “a declaration of the court that the congress of the PDP held in Ekiti State on March 18, 2012 and the election into state party offices was done in gross violation of the party’s guideline for the elections and the party’s constitution and thereby null and void.
“An order of court setting aside and nullifying the purported elections of the 5th to 11th defendants and all other persons elected into party offices at the Ekiti State PDP congress held on March 18, 2012.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 5th to 11th defendants and all those declared winners in the PDP State Congress held on March 18, 2012 from parading themselves as PDP State Executives in Ekiti State.
“An order of the court directing that a new congress be held for the purposes of electing Party Officers in accordance with the PDP guidelines and Constitution.”
