Niyi Akande, Osogbo.
The governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Osun State, senator Ademola Adeleke has been dragged to a court by concerned members of his party seeking lawful resolution to current imbroglio rocking the PDP.
Mr Ajayi Shuaib, on behalf of himself and the concerned PDP members, in suit number FHC/OS/CS/16/2019 urged a Federal High court sitting in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State to verify the authenticity of Senator Ademola’s academic qualification and determine if the testimonial he presented met the constitutional requirements of a secondary school certificate.
Also joined in the fresh suit were the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC as 2nd and 3rd respondents.
According to the Originating Summons, Mr Shuaib, through his counsel; Barrister Seyi Oyagbile disclosed that section 182(1)(J) of the Constitution, “specifically states: a) a Candidate must present a certificate to INEC. (b). It must be a certificate that is not forged.
The litigants sought for an interpretation of section 182(1)(J) of the Constitution in the case of the documents presented by senator Adeleke as his academic qualification to INEC. They also asked the court to determine whether the document presented by the senator are certificates and whether they are authentic.
Barrister Oyagbile said if any of litigants’ questions get “no” as answer, the court should also determine whether senator Ademola could be adjudged a lawful candidate of the PDP or not.
The suit is based on section 182(1)(J) of the Constitution, differing drastically from related cases based on section 177 of the Constitution
In a press chat, barrister Seyi revealed, “it merely asks the court to interpret and enforce s.182(1)(J) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended”
”We categorically stated in the case that it is not a political witch hunt. It is a meritorious suit instituted by concerned and fervently committed PDP members, who are only desirous of a lasting, peaceful, and lawful resolution to the current imbroglio in the PDP”
The party leadership had since swung into action, doing everything possible to nib the suit in the bud and curb the new twist on the series of the senator’s certificate scandal.
Shuaib hailed from Odo-otin Local government. He reportedly supported senator Ademola during the party primaries and general election. He, alongside others including a relative of a member of the party whose vehicle was damaged and destroyed during the governorship election, but allegedly ignored by the Adelekes, filed the suit on 10th of May.
As at press time, the senator’s allies were making overtures to the litigants for a possible out of court settlement. A whopping sum of 10 million naira was authoritatively said to have been offered by the Adelekes as compensation to halt the suit from being tried in court.
