By Musa Baba Adamu
A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta has struck out a suit filed by a governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun, Jimi Lawal.
DAILY POST reports that Lawal had asked for applied for a writ of mandamus in Suit No: FHC/AB/CS/222/2022, praying the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise him as the candidate of the PDP in the 2023 governorship election in Ogun.
Lawal had filed the suit following a so-called “illegal” primary election conducted by his camp, in which he was declared winner.
It would be recalled that Lawal held the primary despite the fact that the national headquarters of the PDP had filed an appeal against the judgment of a high court that nullified all PDP primaries and ordered fresh ones in 14 days.
Lawal, who has now been expelled for conducting the said primary, had sought an order that his name be published by INEC as the PDP candidate in Ogun.
The suit was filed by Taiwo Olabode Idris and others against INEC, PDP and Adebutu as respondents.
While Thaddeus Idehen of Messer’s Kemi Pinhero appeared for the applicants, Damiloju Damilola appeared for INEC and Dr Hassan Balogun represented the PDP and Ladi Adebutu.
Balogun had prayed that the case against his clients, the PDP and Adebutu, be struck out.
The counsel drew the attention of the court to the pending appeals at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan which has been slated for hearing on November 14.
He also informed the court that the same Lawal has a pending case in an Abuja court on the PDP governorship primary election in Ogun.
In her ruling, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the case was an abuse of the court process.
The judge held that since there are cases still pending in court, “the application for mandamus is premature and an abuse of court process.”
The matter was, therefore, struck out with no order as to cost.
Recall that Jimi Lawal was on Tuesday expelled from the party for holding the said primary.
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