The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which has led to the earlier postponement of its mini convention in the South West seem far from being over, as the party has again failed in its bid to vacate the order of an Osun State High Court restraining it from staking the position of National Secretary of the party at its mini convention.
This is coming barely 72 hours before the South West Zonal Congress of the party schedule to hold this week’s Saturday in Ibadan where candidates that will stand election for the position of National Secretary of the party is expected to emerge.
The case earlier adjourned to Monday, August 19 at the last sitting suffered two postponements because of the absence of the judge in charge who was on vacation on Monday and a public holiday was declared in the state on Tuesday in commemoration of Isese Day.
The presiding judge, Isiaka O. Adeleke, declined hearing the motion exparte granted by Justice Oyejide on August 1, restraining parties involved in the matter from conducting election into the office of National Secretary of the party, following an application brought before the court by the former National Secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.
Oyinlola had claimed in his application that his removal through the verdict of Justice Abdul Kafarati of an Abuja High Court on January 13, 2013 is presently being challenged before Court of Appeal and hearing in the suit, according to his counsel, Realwan Okpanachi is due to commence by September this year.
While addressing the court, counsel to the first respondent, (Alhaji Ganiyu Olaoluwa) Mr. Sunday Ojo-Williams, said he has filed, on behalf of his client, who is Osun state PDP chairman, an application for preliminary objection to the motion exparte stopping conduct of election for the office of National secretary of PDP.
In their reactions, counsel to the applicant, (Prince Olagumsoye Oyinlola) and 2nd respondent (Prof. Jerry Gana), Realwan Okpanachi and Yamta Yusuf respectively, indicated their readiness to respond to the preliminary objection, if it pleases the court.
Justice Isiaka Adeleke however informed the parties that the matter could not go on because the matter was new to him, saying he needed time to study the case file.
He then warned parties involved to maintain status quo pending the determination of the suit and subsequently adjourned till Wednesday, September 18 for hearing of the application.
