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The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, on Monday struck out an appeal filed by a former deputy governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi against the selection of Sen. Kola Balogun as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Oyo South senatorial district.
Gbolarumi had challenged the selection of Balogun as the party’s candidate, saying the senator did not participate in the primaries which held in November 2018. Gbolarumi dragged the party before Justice P.I Ajoku of the Federal High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan.
It would be recalled that Chief Bayo Lawal, who has just been nominated as commissioner defeated Gbolarumi in the PDP primary but later conceded the ticket to Balogun who joined the party from African Democratic Congress(ADC).
The PDP in Oyo State said at the time that it granted a waiver to Balogun before giving him the senatorial ticket.
On Monday, even though the appelate court ruled in favour of Gbolarumi, berating the lower court for dismissing his petition because it was filed outside of the 14 days law requirement, it declared the matter was statute barred, and so would not be sent to the lower court for retrial.
It is understand that Gbolarumi may be considering challenging the decision of the appeal court at the Supreme Court.