Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
Contrary to earlier claims that it had overcome years of internal wrangling and legal warfare, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State may enter the next general elections dressed as a ‘gambling party.’
This is due to the level of uncertainty surrounding the state’s governorship candidate as well as all other candidates. Sentry understands that Ladi Adebutu and other candidates from the troubled party are currently out of the 2023 race unless something unexpected happens.
Previously, party supporters breathed a sigh of relief on May 25, when the state chapter of the PDP held a single governorship primary election for the first time since 2010, and Adebutu was declared the winner.
Of course, other aspirants disagreed, but many hoped that it would be resolved quickly. Adebutu and other party leaders frequently boasted of the party’s newly discovered indivisibility and urged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to begin packing in preparation for leaving government house.
All of that changed on September 26th, when a Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital, nullified all of the PDP’s primary elections in order to select candidates for the state’s general elections in 2023.
Justice O. Oguntoyinbo ordered the party to hold new primaries within 14 days of that date. The court also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing Adebutu as a candidate for governor.
When INEC released its final list of candidates earlier this month, it quickly removed Adebutu’s name from the list. To make matters worse, Segun Showunmi, a party chieftain in the state, went to the Supreme Court to request that his name be published as the legitimate candidate of the party in the state.
He had previously dragged the Sikirulahi Ogundele-led Ogun PDP executive to an Ogun State High Court sitting in Abeokuta, asking it to dissolve the party officials for alleged bias; however, the court said the matter was a party affair over which it could not rule. Showunmi appealed to the Appeal Court, which granted two of his three prayers; however, the appellate court agreed with the lower court that the matter was a party matter. Unsatisfied, Showunmi stated that he is now taking his case to the Supreme Court against the party executive, who he claims obtained nomination forms for Adebutu.
The PDP in the state has refused to hold new primaries as ordered by the court, and the 14-day grace period has expired, leaving the party without a candidate ‘known to the law’ as of today. With INEC insisting on following the courts’ orders, the PDP’s hopes are now pinned on the possibility that an appellate court will overturn the High Court’s decision.
