By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja
The Federal High Court Abuja, has dismissed a suit by Otunba Jimi Adebisi Lawal, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), against Oladipupo Adebutu, in contest of the Ogun state PDP governorship ticket.
Lawal and Adebutu, were before the court laying claims as the gubernatorial candidate of the party ahead the 2023 general elections.
The presiding Judge, Justice Iyang Ekwo, in his judgement, said he did not see any concrete documentary evidence by the Plaintiff to support his claim that an unlawful delegate list was used by the PDP to conduct the April 30, Ward Congress in Ogun state.
Justice Ekwo held that the suit is a product of an after thought by the plaintiff who played a role of a spoiler.
Lawal, who contested the May 25, governorship primary election of the PDP had challenged the emergence of Adebutu, alleging that unlawful and invalid delegates list was fraudulently used by PDP to conduct the election.
Among other reliefs, Lawal wanted the court to cancel the May 25, governorship primary and another one be conducted with the authentic adhoc delegates list.
However, Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court Abuja, in his judgment delivered on July 29, declined to hear Lawal’s suit on merit.
Justice Taiwo based his decision on the fact that the primary election was a domestic affair of any political party and dismissed the suit.
Recall that the Apex court in a lead judgment by Justice Ibrahim Saulawa had ordered speedy hearing of the suit after holding that the Federal High Court has jurisdiction to hear the matter.
