A governorship aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Jimi Lawal has reacted to a court ruling which dismissed a re-run primary conducted by his faction.
He said his group was “neither served any court processes nor were we part of the proceedings.”
Lawal’s group had conducted a rerun primary held on October 17 following a court order which nullified all PDP’s primaries and ordered a fresh one within 14 days.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party and Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu filed a suit marked FHC/AB/CS/220/2022 against Lawal and others over the rerun primary.
In a judgment delivered by Hon. Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, the court voided the primary on Friday.
Reacting in a statement signed by the Project Director of the Jimi Adebisi Lawal Campaign Organization (JALCO), Austin Oniyokor, the governorship aspirant described the ruling as “the handiwork of the desperadoes within the Ogun state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who sees the party as their birthright and an extension of their patrimony.”
Lawal expressed concern that “the same people who said the rerun was of no moment and willfully refused to participate in the exercise could go to court to challenge same.”
While urging his supporters to remain hopeful, strong and focused, Lawal said the truth will soon triumph over lies “even as light dispels darkness.”
READ HIS FULL STATEMENT BELOW
RE: COURT NULLIFIES JIMI LAWAL’S RERUN PRIMARY IN OGUN*
The attention of the Jimi Adebisi Lawal Campaign Organization (JALCO) has been drawn to a purported court proceedings and judgment which reportedly nullified the rerun governorship primary election held on the 17th of October, 2022.
We wish to state that it is the handiwork of the desperadoes within the Ogun state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who sees the party as their birthright and an extension of their patrimony.
It is very amusing that the same people who said the rerun was of no moment and willfully refused to participate in the exercise could go to court to challenge same. Pray, where did they get their locus standi (i.e. legal standing) to sue since they did not participate in the rerun election?
Again, we make haste to add that we were neither served any court processes nor were we part of the proceedings. In matter of this nature, personal service is a basic requirement and condition precedent to hearing a suit and delivering judgment.
While our lawyers make efforts to get the purported judgment and study case file with a view to taking appropriate steps under the law, we wish to assure all our supporters, stakeholders and party members that this resort to judicial ambush will not save our friends on the other side.
It is only a matter of time before the truth triumphs over lies even as light dispels darkness. Let us remain hopeful, strong and focused!
*PDP…Power to the People!*
*Signed*
*Austin Oniyokor*
*Project Director*
*Jimi Adebisi Lawal Campaign Organization (JALCO),*
*Abeokuta, Ogun state.*
*25th November, 2022*
