Supreme Court declares Adeleke as PDP Governorship Candidate
The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that Ademola Adeleke was the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) legitimate candidate in the just-completed Osun governorship elections.
Prince Oyedotun Babayemi’s petition to be acknowledged as a candidate in the July 16 governorship election was denied by the court.
Babayemi had filed his Notice of Appeal in time but filed the second one on Day 15, contrary to Section 285. He abandoned the first and based his Brief on the second ‘incompetent’ one. The Justices noted that the Notice of Appeal was incompetent and dismissed same with no cost.
Due to the case being filed outside of the 14-day constitutional timeframe for appeal, the panel headed by Justice Amina Augie concluded that it had passed its expiration date.
After parallel primaries were held in several parts of the State Capital, Osogbo, Prince Babayemi and Senator Adeleke battled it out in court over who was legitimately elected.p
In the primary election held at the Women and Children Development Initiative Foundation (WOCDIF) in Osogbo on March 8, Babayemi was declared the victor.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) observed and recognised the NWC-backed Primary that was held at the Osogbo City Stadium on the same day. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, served as Chairman, and Senator Adeleke was declared the winner.
Adeleke was declared as legitimately elected in a list of candidates later made public by INEC, setting the stage for a flurry of legal disputes.
Babayemi had previously filed a complaint with a federal high court, but it was rejected before he went to the Supreme Court.
