Court nullifies PDP parallel primaries in Ogun, orders fresh election

A federal high court in Abeokuta has nullified the parallel governorship primaries conducted by the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun state.

Two factions of the party had conducted parallel primaries that produced Oladipupo Adebutu and Segun Sowunmi as candidates of the party in the 2023 governorship election.

The primary that produced Sowunmi, which held at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Abeokuta was said to have been monitored by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and members of the Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria.

However, the primary that produced Adebutu, a former member of the house of representatives, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo presidential library in the state capital.

A governorship aspirant, Jimi Lawal, had filed a suit before the court to contest the delegate list that the Sikirulahi Ogundele faction of the party used during the primary which was held at the Olusegun Obasanjo presidential library.

Other candidates had also approached the court to challenge the authenticity of the Sikirulahi Ogundele-led state executive of the party in the state.

In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, O.O. Oguntoyinbo, the presiding judge, nullified all the governorship primaries conducted by the party in the state.

The court ruled that the primaries conducted didn’t follow the principles of the electoral act.

The judge also ordered that a rerun should be conducted within 14 days.

Speaking with journalists after the judgment, counsel to Sowunmi, Monday Mawah, said the matter was brought by some delegates who said they were not allowed to participate in the state congress.

He said, “My client, Segun Sowunmi, was also sued as the fourth defendant in the matter, but my lord in his infinite wisdom today nullified the entire primaries that took place in Ogun state, from governorship to state assembly level, that they did not comply with the provisions of the electoral act,” he said.

“Therefore, a fresh primary has been ordered to be conducted by INEC within 14 days from today.”