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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo state has dragged the INEC, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) and the state House of Assembly to court over the local government elections scheduled for May 12 in the 33 Local Government Council Areas and 35 Local Council Development Areas in the state.
The suit filed at the Federal High Court in Ibadan, before Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel wants the election stopped because certain things about the preparations for the polls were wrong.
At the hearing of the case on Wednesday, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluseun Abimbola and the Director of Civil Litigation and advisory Services, Mr S.O. Adeoye stood as counsel to the second, third and fourth defendant, including other parties sought to be joined in the suit while Mr Koyejo Oyetunde and Dr Nureni Adeniran appeared for the Plaintiff.
Mr Oyetunde told the court that he has a motion dated April 9, 2018 slated for hearing while Abimbola briefed the court that they also have a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court on the matter.
Justice Ayo-Emmanuel requesting to be briefed on the matter by both counsel noted that briefs must be presented through documents before motions are raised.
He adjourned the case till May 3 for hearing and informed PDP counsel, Oyetunde to ensure that he collects his service copy before the date.
Counsel to PDP, Dr Adeniran, speaking after the court session, said the PDP “does not want INEC to allow the OYSIEC to conduct the local government election because we believe that a lot of things are wrong on the election they are proposing”.
Accordimg to him, “that’s why our party, PDP (Oyo state chapter) and other political parties are not showing interest to participate in the election and we have to go through the process of the law and that’s why we come to court.
“We also have some other issues that are embedded in the matter which is already before the court. For hearing and some motions on applications pending before the court and has been adjourned.”