The Osogbo Division of the Federal High Court, on Wednesday affirmed Ademola Adeleke as the authentic candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the July 16 governorship election in the state.

Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel, in his judgment, which lasted for more than 1 hour, 30 minutes, held that the primary election conducted at the WOCDIF Centre, Osogbo, on  March 8, which produced  Dotun Babayemi, was null and void.

The PDP during its governorship primary elections on March 8, had held parallel primaries in the state.

Mr Ayo-Emmanuel, who cited  Section 84 (14) of the Electoral Act, after a thorough proceeding and counter arguments by both counsels, dismissed the suit filed by Mr Babayemi.

He said it was only the aspirant(s) that participated physically at the primary  conducted by the PDP National Working Committee and not the one conducted by the party’s state executives that have power and locus standi to challenge such suit in court.

The judge upheld the governorship primary  conducted by the PDP National Working Executive Committee at the Osogbo Township Stadium that produced Mr Adeleke.

He said the claims of the plaintiff lacked locus standi, because he did not take part in the National Working Executive Committee primary election organised by his party on March 8, which was supervised by the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.

In one of the primaries held at the Osogbo City Stadium, under the supervision of Mr Ewhrudjakpo, as Chairman, Mr Adeleke was declared the winner.

However, in another primary held at the Women and Children Development Initiative Foundation (WOCDIF) Centre, Osogbo, Mr Babayemi, was declared the winner.

In a list of candidates later released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mr Adeleke’s was recognised.

Mr Babayemi, however, approached the court challenging the nomination and submission of Mr Adeleke by the PDP to INEC.

He is also challenging the validity of the governorship primaries conducted at the stadium against the one held at WOCDIF.

Mr Babayemi, after the court session, told reporters that the matter was a “family affair”.

He said his legal and political team would review the judgment in the best interest of the state.

Mr Babayemi added that his decision on the judgment  would be in the best interest of the state. 

NAN