Lagos – The Lagos State chapter of the PDP on Friday flagged off its governorship campaign rally, in defiance of a court order restraining it from doing so.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the rally, which was held at the National Stadium, Lagos, was attended by the party’s candidates for the forthcoming state and National Assembly polls.

NAN reports that Justice Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Thursday gave an order restraining the Lagos PDP from holding the rally until the determination of the suit at the court.

The PDP Director of Publicity for Lagos, Dr Segun Ogundimu, however, said that “the court did not say that the rally should not be held.”

Ogundimu, a former health commissioner in Lagos, said that “the party will only respect the court order not to parade Ade Dosunmu as its candidate for now”.

The suit was filed by Mr Oluowo Adeyeri, a PDP delegate from Ward A2, Ikorodu, where Dosunmu emerged the party’s candidate.

Adeyeri said that Dosunmu did not meet the constitutional requirements to contest as the party’s flag bearer.

According to the petitioner, Dosunmi had not been a PDP member for up to two years as required by the party’s guidelines as at when the state congress was held.

Adeyeri said that Dosunmu did not ask for waiver to contest the election and was not granted any by the appropriate authorities in compliance with Article 14 (j) of the PDP Electoral Guidelines for the 2010 primary elections.

He also alleged that Dosunmu was forced out of office as director-general of (Nigerian Marine Administration and Safety Agency)
NIMASA because of financial impropriety.

Adeyeri said Article 14 (d) of the party’s electoral guidelines forbade such a person from contesting elections.

He prayed the court to declare Dosunmu ineligible to contest elections and void his candidacy and urged the court to restrain the PDP from submitting Dosunmu’s name as its flag bearer.

He also prayed the court to declare the first runner up at the party’s governorship primaries as winner.

Dosunmu’s lawyer, Dele Oguntade (SAN), said he had filed a notice of preliminary objection, challenging the plaintiff’s locus standi.

The PDP, the chairman of its governorship screening committee, chairman of its governorship election panel and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were joined as defendants in the suit.
(NAN)