Jimi Agbaje, winner of PDP’s governorship primary election in Lagos State The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has pleaded with Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja not to grant an application brought by Musiliu Obanikoro, who contested and lost the party’s gubernatorial primary in the state. Obanikoro had, through an ex-parte motion, urged the court to restrain the PDP from submitting the name Jimi Agbaje, winner of the said primary election, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pending the determination of an originating summon dated December 15. Rather than granting the injunction sought by Obanikoro, the court however directed that PDP and INEC be put on notice as well as to appear in court to show cause why the prayers of the plaintiff/applicant should not be granted. Before the court adjourned hearing to January 14, counsel to the PDP, Paul Ananaba (SAN), told the court yesterday that he had filed a preliminary objection to the plaintiff’s application. Ananaba also filed an affidavit on why the court should not make the order sought by the plaintiff as well as a 35-paragraph counter affidavit in response to Obanikoro’s motion on notice for injunction dated December 12, 2014. In the counter-affidavit deposed to by one Samuel Ladeinde, who claimed to be the PDP youth leader, the party said, “the plaintiff’s motion on notice for inter alia an injunctive and restraining order is to improperly frustrate and deprive the PDP from fielding its lawful governorship candidate in Lagos State.” According to him, PDP shall be gravely prejudiced if Obanikoro’s application is granted. He said it would be in the interest of justice to refuse the application. The PDP disclosed that at the conclusion of voting on the day of the primary, “a total of 864 ballot papers were issued to the accredited delegates. In the Electoral Committee chairman’s opening remarks, he had mentioned that 806 delegates were accredited. But this initial remark was a tabulation error, which occurred by the omission to tabulate the names of 58 accredited delegates. “The agents and aspirants were clearly informed at the electoral desk of this tabulation omission which they accepted without opposition before the counting of votes cast commenced. During the voting, the agents of the aspirants had verified each delegate before the delegates were given ballot papers to go and vote, thus ensuring that only duly accredited delegates voted, and each such delegate received only one ballot paper.” The PDP stated that at the end of exercise, out of the 864 votes, 863 were valid. “There was valid accreditation and a total number of 864 delegates were accredited. One delegate Tolani Animashun from the list of Ward M Etiosa LGA was removed based on a petition. Three wards were cancelled including Epe wards H and H1,” the PDP stated. At the end of counting, the party disclosed that Musiliu Obanikoro polled 343 votes, Jimi Agbaje got 432, Tokumbo Kamson had 46, Mr. Adedeji Doherty won 21 and Tunde Gbadamosi secured 21 votes. In its notice of preliminary objection to the main suit, the PDP begged the court not to grant the orders sought by Obanikoro because “it will adversely affect millions of members and supporters of the applicant who are neither made parties nor put on notice.”
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 14:32:41 +0000
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