Dr. John Adanike, A lawyer and aspirant at the Akoko southeast/southwest primary election of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state has criticized the Party, it’s chairman, Engineer Ade Adetimehin, and governor Rotimi Akeredolu over alleged substantial noncompliance with the spirit and purpose of the APC’s Constitution, Electoral Guidelines and Electoral Act, 2010, (as amended) during the exercise.
Adanike spoke at the Federal High Court sitting in Akure on Monday, which fixed July 13th for the hearing of his suit, challenging the validity of the primary election which produced Mr. Gboyega Adefarati as the All Progressives Congress’ candidate in the May 2022 primary election for the seat.
Dissatisfied with the outcome of the primary election, the plaintiff filed the suit alleging that the exercise was marred by grave and substantial noncompliance with the spirit and purpose of the APC’s Constitution, Electoral Guidelines and Electoral Act, 2022 (as amended).
Adanike noted that the gross misconduct was a result of a combined effort by the Ondo State APC Chairman, Ade Adetimehin’s and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu “to force an unpopular candidate” on the people.
“I paid the nomination fee of 10 million Naira, campaigned but the election was never allowed to hold. I did the needful by sending my appeal to the party which was received by the appeal committee. The Committee sat and ordered that there was no primary in my Constituency,” he said.
“They fixed another date for another but surprisingly when the committee saddled with the new primary got to Ondo state, the Governor (Governor Rotimi Akeredolu) and convinced them that there was insecurity in Ondo state. They went away and has since not come back.”
“Our prayer in court is that a new primary election be conducted in the federal Constituency and particularly at St. Patrick Secondary school in Oka Akoko,” he added.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Demi Ajayi adjourned the case to the 13th of July for hearing, after taking an oral application for the commencement of trial from the counsel to the petitioner, Barrister Shola Ajisafe.
Four of the five aspirants who were cleared to contest in the party primary election in the Constituency, have approached the court for redress. While the suit filed by Chief Segun Ategbole has been fixed for the 14th of July 2022, that of Honourable Ade Adeogun, the incumbent member representing the federal constituency was fixed for the 19th of July 2022.
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