The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Wednesday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that it does not recognise Professor Olawale Oladipo as the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
INEC made the submission yesterday while urging that the court strikes out a suit challenging the recognition of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola as the National Secretary of the Party.
Its counsel, Vilba Kintai, stated that the PDP had so far failed to produced any court order compelling it to recognise Oladipo.
The suit, which was filed by top officials of the party in the South-West, is praying the court to order INEC to recognise the incumbent as national secretary.
The plaintiffs are the state chairmen of the party in Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ondo as well as financial secretaries in Lagos and Ekiti. They are Chief Adebayo Dayo, Alhaji Olayinka Taiwo, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, Chief Ebenezer Alabi, Dr. Tope Aluko and Chief Taiwo Kuye.
Joined as respondents are INEC, PDP and Oyinlola.
Oyinlola had been reinstated as the National Secretary of the PDP by the Court of Appeal on November 6, 2014.
Dissatisfied with the verdict, the respondents proceeded to the Supreme Court to challenge the ruling.
Oyinlola later filed another action at the Federal High Court, Abuja, challenging the suspension and failure of the party to recognise him.
Meanwhile, an application filed before the Supreme Court for a Stay of Execution of the Court of Appeal judgement which reinstated Oyinlola would be heard on July 6, 2014.
At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, INEC counsel, Kintai, also raised a preliminary objection, urging the court to strike out the suit for lack of jurisdiction.
He submitted that the issue brought by the plaintiff was an intra-party dispute, which the court had no jurisdiction over.
Similarly, counsel to Oyinlola, Gbeyoga Oyewole filed a preliminary objection and counter affidavit seeking the dismissal of the suit.
vIA dAILY pOST
No comments:
Post a Comment