BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Members of the People’s Democratic Party in Osun State were thrown into jubilation as the Supreme Court, on Thursday, affirmed the Governor-elect of the state, Ademola Adeleke, as the authentic candidate of the party for the July 16 governorship election in the state.
The apex court, in a unanimous judgement by a five-man panel of justices, dismissed an appeal that was lodged against Adeleke by Dotun Babayemi who laid claim to governorship ticket of the PDP, having emerged from a parallel primary election that was held by a faction of the party in the state.
Counsel to the Appellant, Adebayo Adelodun, SAN, withdrew the appeal after the panel led by Justice Amina Augie, drew his attention to the fact that the case was statute barred.
The panel had maintained that the appeal was incompetent, stressing that it was filed outside the 14 days period provided by the law.
Adeleke had defeated Babayemi after Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmmanuel of a Federal High Court, Osogbo, in his judgement on the matter on May 18, upheld the governorship primary that produced Adeleke.
Also, the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, in its judgement of July 20 on the appeal filed against the decision of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, aligned with the lower court and dismissed Babayemi’s appeal.
Earlier, security operatives had engaged in a ‘show of strength’ across Osogbo, the state capital.
A combined security team that had soldiers, police and Department of State Services operatives, as well as men and officers of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, moved through major streets in Osogbo to ensure law and order as PDP faithful and residents celebrated Adeleke’s victory.
The Public Relations Officer of the state police command, Yemisi Opalola, said the patrol was to prevent the breakdown of law and order.
Meanwhile, the Osun state chapter of the PDP has praised the judiciary for living up to its expectation as the house of justice even as the party reaffirmed the expulsion of Babayemi from the party.
In a statement signed by its State Caretaker Chairman, Adekunle Akindele, the party recalled its earlier statement that the Nigerian judiciary is a newly remodeled one which is addicted to due process in compliance with the law and its precedents, urging party supporters to remain calm.
The party chairman, who described the victory as another landmark for Osun people, commended the lord justices of the Supreme Court.
“The court is no longer a ground for frivolity and diversionary cases,” and hailed the apex court for reinforcing its integrity.
While congratulating the Governor-elect, the party noted that Babayemi had since ceased to be a member of the PDP and warned against any accommodation of the expelled politician in PDP matters.
“As we are rejoicing, we must note very strongly that a mole among us who was an active agent of the APC had since lost his membership of PDP. No organ or affiliates of the party should accommodate him or his agenda again within this party.
“Any member of the party who continues to romance the expelled member risks being charged with anti-party activities and may face appropriate sanction. We must get rid of fifth columnists by descending heavily on them. We must uproot them and cut down their branches.
“We once again congratulate loyal party members and the good people of Osun State that the light they voted for has again prevailed. We should all be rest assured that similar victory awaits us at the Tribunal,” the statement concluded.
