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The status of Senator Olufemi Lanlehin as the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Oyo State stills hangs in the balance despite repirts over the weekend that suits challenging his candidacy have been withdrawn.
A suit seeking his disqualification as the party’s candidate was on Monday adjourned to February 8, 2019, by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of a Federal High Court, Abuja.
Recall that 12 aspirants of the party last year approached the court to protest against alleged imposition of Lanlehin as governorship candidate of the party in the March 2 governorship election.
Last Thursday, some of the challengers claimed that all suits challenging Lanlehin have been withdrawn and that all the aspirants have decided to back him.
Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, who was one of the aggrieved aspirants claimed at the inauguration of the governorship campaign organisation of the party at Jogor Centre, Ibadan, that all the conflicts that arose from the primaries have been amicably resolved and all the other aspirants that contested for the party’s ticket are ready to work for the victory of the party and Senator Lanlehin at the polls.
“All power belongs to God and He gives whoever He wants.
“All the co-aspirants have discontinued all the cases in court and we have all agreed to support Senator Lanlehin,” he said, with another aspirant, Tirimisiyu Ayanlowo Obisesan, corroborating him.
But on Monday, it became clear that only five out of the 12 plaintiffs in the suit have withdrawn while others were still actively pursuing the suit.
Those who have withdrawn from the suit, with number FHC/ABJ/CS/1144/2018, are: Hon. Festus Wale Adegoke, Ambassador Taofeek Oladejo Arapaja, Senator Andrew Gbenga Babalola, Chief Tirimisiyu Ayanlowo Obisesan and Otunba Oluseye Opatoki.
The other Plaintiffs still active include Dr. Nurein Aderemi Adeniran, Mr. Ayodele Adigun, Dr. Yunus Abiodun Akintunde, Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, Dr. Mohammed Kola Balogun, Engr. Rauf Aderemi Olaniyan and Engr. Aderemi Oseni.
They have reportedly vowed to pursue the case to a logical conclusion, even though some of them have sinced moved on to other parties.