Ondo poll: INEC says no to postponement

Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the Commission, Rotimi Oyekanmi in an interview with The Guardian, said: INEC is not contemplating a postponement, as the attendant conflicts in the build up to the election in the state are strictly the party’s affair and not that of the electoral umpire.

But the Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratice (PDP), yesterday, accused the Federal Government of intimidating the judiciary to force it to subvert the course of justice in favour of the APC in the election.

The PDP in a statement issued by the spokesman of the caretaker committee, Dayo Adeyeye, also called on INEC to shift the election pending the determination of the cases at the Appeal Court.

The Court of Appeal Panel led by Justice Ibrahim Salauwa set up to determine the appeals of Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) against the judgment given by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which affirmed Jimoh Ibrahim of the Ali Modu Sheriff faction as the candidate of the party in the election, had on Friday, adjourned all proceedings sine die.

In doing so, Justice Ibrahim Salauwa stated that the decision to adjourn was taken in the face of a petition written against the panel to the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN) and Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), alleging acts of corruption, bias and breach of oaths of office amongst others.

The PDP described the indefinite adjournment as a consequence of what it called “the latest of several mischievous actions taken by Messrs Biyi Poroye, Jimoh Ibrahim
and their legal team led by Mr. Ben Nwofor (SAN). These actions, ranging from unsubstantiated allegations of corruption, to outright disrespect and disregard for the Justices of the Court of Appeal, to disruption of court proceedings and flagrant abuse of court processes, are all designed to achieve one aim – stall proceedings and ensure that the legitimate candidate of the party is prevented from contesting the November 26th, 2016 Gubernatorial Election in Ondo State.” It stated.

As the legal battle for the rightful candidate to fly the PDP’s flagin the election continues in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, lawyers have agreed that the issue of the rightful candidate of the PDP can only be resolved after the election.

According to some senior members of the bar who spoke to The Guardian, unless the Court of Appeal makes pronouncement early this week, quickly followed by that of the Supreme Court, supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State would be going into the November 26 gubernatorial poll bewildered

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ibrahim Bawa said INEC can continue with the election with the name of Ibrahim. According to him, if PDP wins the election and Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) emerges victorious at the courts finally, he (Jegede) would take over from Jimoh Ibrahim.

Gordy Uche (SAN) toed the same line of argument. He believes that the election will go on with the courts approved candidate, being Ibrahim.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police has commenced the deployment of 25,000 police officers from various special units. The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Don Awunah told The Guardian that the Police as the lead internal security agency would work in close partnership with other security agencies, noting “already deployment has commenced and we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure a hitch free process”.