- Claims governor filed 25 cases against party through proxies
- Promises to come back stronger after Appeal Court verdict
- I don’t have time for frivolities, Ogun too sophisticated for such larceny, governor replies ADC
The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Ralph Okey Nwosu, has accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State of sponsoring 25 court cases against his party (ADC) in the state.
Nwosu while addressing journalists on Monday at the party’s secretariat in Abeokuta said Governor Abiodun had used people who are not connected to the party to file 25 cases against ADC.
He added that the party respected the court’s decision and would not query the veracity of the judgements.
The ADC National Chairman maintained that, the judicial ambush that the party currently battles in Ogun State was not due to any indiscretion by the party, but traceable to the alleged infamous role being played by the ruling APC in Ogun State led by Governor Abiodun whom he described as the ‘Defacto’ sponsor.
“It is unfortunate that the judicial ambush that the party currently battles in Ogun State is not due to any indiscretion on our part but rather, it is traceable to the infamous role being played by the ruling APC in Ogun State, under the diminishing watch of Dapo Abiodun – as the ‘Defacto’ sponsors of the litigations; using different political parties and individuals to file 25 different lawsuits against the ADC – with the intention to get us out of contention for the 2023 elections.”
He, however, refuted reports that the party had agreed to work with another political party for the 2023 general elections because it no longer has candidates.
He described the report as “false in its entirety”, saying all the party’s candidates remained as they were.
He added that the purveyors of these reports were only riding on the party’s temporary challenge to hoodwink members or lie to the public that ADC had joined them.
“Importantly, we have been inundated with calls and reports from some quarters that the ADC has opted to work with another political party in the state for the coming election the party no longer has candidates. This is false in its entirety and we use this medium to state that all our candidates remain as they are. We have no pact or working relationship with any other political party.
“We are going to contest the election and fix Ogun State back. No political party should ride on our temporary challenge to hoodwink our members or lie to the public that ADC has joined them.
The ADC National Chairman reaffirmed that nothing would stop the party from fielding candidates and contesting the 2023 general elections in Ogun State.
He expressed optimism that the party is coming back stronger and would win at the appellate court.
“It is the considered opinion of our legal representatives that the judgments were drenched in advertent inaccuracies, especially when interrogated with existential contexts, points of law and even recent precedence.
“Subsequently, we have filed for redress at the Court of Appeal and we are confident that the orders of the lower courts shall be overturned and all our candidates will be revalidated.
“ADC has been targeted in the state, but I can assure you that justice will prevail. Some desperate people want to thwart the finest element of democracy, the power of the people to vote whom they want, believing they can manipulate and corrupt the systems and persons.
“Only in Ogun State, people who are not connected with ADC have been used to file over 2 dozen cases in the Federal High Court against our dear party.
“As if the courtrooms have become polling booths, INEC observed that over 800 cases have been filed against the commission by political parties especially APC and PDP,” he said.
A Federal High Court in Abeokuta had repudiated the validity of ADC candidates after a motion filed by the Labour Party over alleged non-compliance to the Electoral Act in the conducts of its primary elections
While reacting to the allegations, Governor Abiodun said he does not have time for freebies and frivolities.
Speaking to The Point through his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, the governor asked: “Does ADC exist in our state until two months ago? The party ceased to function when GNI (Gboyega Nasir Isiaka), its founder and facilitator, saw light and joined us since we won the election 2019.”
Somorin said “the remnants could not form any serious political association, let alone contest local government elections or conduct any party primary.”
“Are you aware that the scion of the Tunji Otegbeye political dynasty, Dr. Leke Otegbeye, has volunteered to mobilise for the DA’s reelection? He even said if the renowned social welfarist were to be alive, he would have endorsed Governor Abiodun for a second term given his track records. What else?
“Let the National Chairman play no blame game for either sympathy or empathy here. It won’t work. No serious minded politician waits until the eve of an election to play political kinesthetic to curry favour or play the victim for sympathy. Ogun is too sophisticated for such larceny.
“What is our own with their court matters?”