S-West PDP slams ACN over Lagos LG election case

LAGOS — The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the South-West has described the arm-twisting tactics employed by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, to allegedly subvert the course of justice in the ongoing Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area chairmanship election Appeal case as shameful and a further demonstration of the party’s hatred for democracy and rule of law.

The party said the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mariam Muktar and other well-meaning Nigerians must as a matter of urgency intervene in the matter to prevent the ACN from subverting the will of the people by blackmailing the judiciary into abandoning the case.

Zonal Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Hon. Kayode Babade, in a statement yesterday said among other things that; “It should be recalled that our party candidate in the October 22, 2011 council polls, Hon. Ibrahim Babajide Obanikoro was declared the lawful winner of the Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area chairmanship by the election tribunal panel led by Hon. Justice Dolapo Akinsanya on October 4, 2012.

“That decision was appealed by ACN and its candidate Mr. Wale Adeniji.

“Few days ago, the Election Appeal Panel adjourned to November 15, 2012 for adoption of addresses by all parties to the case.

“However, we were surprised to learn that the court announced an adjournment of the case indefinitely without any reason.

“This is an indirect way of ‘arresting’ the Appeal Tribunal judgment or stall the proceedings so as to allow the ACN candidate, Wale Adeniji to continue to enjoy a mandate that does not belong to him.