BY IKECHUKWU NNOCHIRI

ABUJA – AN end to the political crisis rocking the Ogun State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is in view, as a Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, adjourned  till  tomorrow, to determine the authentic gubernatorial candidate of the party for the forthcoming general elections.

Trial judge in the matter, Justice Abdul Kafarati adjourned for ruling,  after the two warring factions of the PDP,  took-turns to adduce reasons why the court should recognize their own gubernatorial candidate.

Whereas the PDP through its lawyer, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, threw its weight behind Adegboyega Nasir Isiaka, who emerged from the primary election that was conducted by the Chief Joju Fadairo-led executive committee of the party in Ogun State, the faction loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, however, urged the court to discountenance the submissions of the PDP lawyer, insisting that the said committee was illegal.

Arguing through their lawyer, Chief Olagoke Fakunle, SAN, the plaintiffs maintained that the Chief Fadairo-led committee was previously sacked by the PDP National Working Committee and that it was subsequently replaced with a harmonized executive committee led by Chief Dayo Soremi, contending that whatever election the dissolved committee conducted in the state amounted to a nullity.

Fakunle prayed the court to declare Chief Adetunji Olurin as the authentic governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun State.

In a swift reaction, however, the PDP refuted claims of the plaintiffs, contending that an Ogun State High Court ab-initio recognised Chief Fadairo as the authentic chairman of the party in the state.

PDP told the court that it was not aware of the said harmonized committee or its gubernatorial candidate, adding that nothing would make it to issue its ticket to an illegal aspirant.

PDP argued that “the plaintiffs concealed from this court, the fact that an Abeokuta High Court in Chief Joju Fadairo & 28 ORS Vs Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo & 5 Ors, restrained the PDP from dissolving or interfering with the Chief  Fadairo executive committee of the party in Ogun State.

“The plaintiffs misrepresented to the court the fact that there was a harmonized executive committee of the party in Ogun State, led by  Dayo Soremi, when no such committee exists and when the National Executive Committee or National Working Committee of the party did not ratify or approve any such harmonised executive committee.
“My lord, whatever action or decision that body took in respect of the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ogun State is illegal and same is not binding on the PDP. Therefore, any candidate that emerged from the said process will not be recognised or sponsored by the party.

“The affidavit filed by the plaintiffs in support of their case before this court lacks integrity. The court should not attach any value to it. Moreover, they did not exhaust internal mechanisms of the party before approaching this court for redress.  I, therefore urge this court to deny them its discretion in this case,” Fagbemi argued. After listening to submissions from both sides, Justice Kafarati adjourned the matter till tomorrow for judgment.