By Daud Olatunji
Lagos — A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the   Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the Nigeria Police and the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State to recognize and deal only with winners of the May 5, 2018, Congress in Ifo Ward 1, 2,3 and 11.

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun (2r) and other delegates from Ogun State at the 2018 All Progressives Congress National Convention at the Eagle Square, Abuja. Photo by Abayomi Adeshida

The court also ordered the Party to conduct fresh congress in Coker Ward 10 for the election of new ward executives following the report that the election was  inconclusive.

The copy of the judgement obtained by Vanguard, in Abeokuta, revealed that the suit was filed in the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, but, was transferred to Lagos court  for adjudication during the vacation.

The suit was filed by some aggrieved members and leaders of the party who include  Asimiyu Aderibigbe, Tope Lawal, Segun Abolade, Ramon Sodipo, Evangelist Solomon Isola, Evang. Folorunso Ojerinde, Chief Kola Olutola, Hon. Monsuru Akinyele, Alhaji Okesola and Mr. Dare Aninkan on behalf of themselves and other winners of the party congress elections in ward 1,2,3 & 11 and contestants in ward 10.

The Presiding Judge, Justice M.S Hassan  held that “political parties ought not to act on their own whims and caprices as they are regulated under the constitution and the Electoral Act.”

Justice Hassan said any act of disobedience to the party rules and the Electoral Act “constitutes an offence punishable upon conviction with a fine.”

“Henceforth, all elective and appointive posts in the wards in Ifo 1 State Constituency must be filled through direct or indirect primaries according to Article 20 (ii & iii) of the Party Constitution.”

Reacting to the judgment, a party leader in Ifo Constituency 1 and Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo said: “God has proved himself in Ifo politics and with the Court order that elective and appointive posts  must henceforth be filled by direct or indirect primary according to the party constitution, it means a son of nobody can become somebody without knowing anybody and paying obeisance to anybody in Ifo politics.”