…..Akingbesote’s Lawyer seeks Court’s disqualification of Gbenro Adewale Abayomi who is from Ward 2 from Contesting in Ward 1
Ahead of 18th January, 2025 local government election, a Councillorship Hopeful for Ward 1 in Ondo West local government, Taiwo Akingbesote has dragged the All Progressives Congress (APC); the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC), and one Gbenro Adewale Abayomi before a State High Court sitting in Ondo.
The Applicant Akingbesote through his Counsel, Oluwanipinmi Q. Arokoyo in the suit filed on 30th December, 2024, is seeking the Court’s order of perpetual injunction to nullify the alleged imposition of Gbenro as the APC Councillorship candidate for Ondo west ward one, while ODIEC should be ordered to disqualify Gbenro because he is from ward two, Constituency two and it is illegal for him to be contesting to become the Councillor in ward one, constituency one in the local government.
Akingbesote prayed the court to grant him some reliefs thus; “A DECLARATION that by the provision of Article 20 (ii) (a) of the 2nd Respondent’s (APC) Constitution, the 2nd & 3nd Respondents (APC and its State Chairman, Ade Adetimehin) act of handpicking and Imposing the 4th Respondent the Councillorship candidate of Ward 1 (one), Ondo West Local Goverment Area without conducting any primary election at the Ward level is unconstitutional, undemocratic, unlawful arbitrary and is rendered null and void
“A DECLARATION that by the combined provisions of Section 59 of the Local Government System Law, CAP 87, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria and Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) Guidelines for the Conduct of Local Government Elections in Onde State, the 4th Respondent (Gbenro Adewale) who is a registered voter in Ward 2 (two), Ondo West Local Government area is ineligible to be nominated by the 2nd & 3rd Respondents and not qualified to contest for the Councillorship position in Ward (one), Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State where he is not a registered voter.
“AN ORDER setting aside and nullifying the handpicking and imposition of the 4th Respondent by the 2nd & 3rd Respondents as the Councillorship candidate of All Progressives Congress of Ward 1 (one), Ondo West Local Government Area in the Local Government elections of Ondo State to be held on 18 January, 2025 or in any other date.
“AN ORDER of PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the 4th Respondent from contesting or being elected into the Councillorship position in Ward 1, Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State in the Ondo State local Government Election to be conducted by the 1st Respondent (ODIEC) or anybody whatsoever.
“AN ORDER of PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the 4th Respondent from parading himself as the Councillorship candidate of any political party or Councillor in Ward 1 (one), Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State in the Ondo State Local Government Election to be conducted by the 1st Respondent or anybody whatsoever.
“AN ORDER OF MANDATORY INJUNCTION directing the 1st Respondent to remove the name of the 4th Respondent as the Councillorship candidate of the 2nd Respondent in Ward 1 (one), Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State from the list of particulars of Councillorship candidates and further restraining the 1st Respondent from recognizing the 4th Respondent as the Councilorship candidate of Ward 1 (one), Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State.
“AN ORDER of PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the 1st Respondent from issuing any Certificate of Return to the 4th Respondent as the Councillor of Ward 1 (one) in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State.”
