By Dayo Johnson & Omeiza Ajayi

Akure—The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC last night declared Jimoh Ibrahim as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

Ibrahim, who belongs to the Modu Sheriff faction of the PDP replaces Eyitayo Jegede who was the candidate of the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the party.

Eyitayo Jegede and Jimoh Ibrahim

In the final list released Thursday night, INEC also announced Chief Olusola Oke as the candidate of the Alliance for Democracy AD.

The notice was signed by the commission’s secretary, Augusta Ogakwu. The list also showed that Rotimi Akeredolu remains the candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC. INEC in deciding on Jimoh in its list of candidates released last night said its action was based on court order.

The INEC decision was despite a last minute move by the mainstream PDP in the state to protect Jegede’s nomination through an order it obtained from an Akure High Court restraining INEC from replacing Jegede.

Besides, another Akure High Court also  yesterday granted an Ex-parte Order restraining Mr. Ibrahim from parading himself as the governorship candidate of the PDP in the November 26, 2016, election.

The order was subsequent upon a suit filed by a governorship aspirant Bamiduro Dada who belonged to the Jimoh camp and had stepped down for him during the primaries held in Ibadan, Oyo State sought to stop Ibrahim from identifying himself as the candidate of the PDP pending when the case would be determined.

It will be recalled that a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Okon Abang had ordered the INEC should replace the name of Jegede with that of Ibrahim.

But Justice Olamide in a ruling yesterday based on an Ex-parte order brought before the court by Clement Faboyed, the chairman of the mainstream PDP in the state and his executive noted that it would be out of order for INEC to replace or substitute Jegede’s name pending the determination of the motion on notice as this  would contravene the principles of equity, justice, and fairness.

He, therefore, directed the PDP to ensure service of the order and originating summons on INEC before the next date of hearing fixed for the 7th of next month.

Jegede emerged as the candidate of the PDP in the congress conducted in Akure while Ibrahim emerged as the candidate in the congress conducted in Ibadan, Oyo State.