LG poll: PDP faction opposes Fayose's list in court

The ‎faction of Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, led by Mr. Tunde Olatunde, has asked an Ado Ekiti High Court to nullify the list of candidates being sponsored by Governor Ayodele Fayose for the December 19 council polls. The faction prayed the court to affirm the list of candidates that emerged from a primary conducted in November, 2011. 

The faction claimed that the candidacy still subsisted and prayed the court to declare the nomination of another set of candidates by the Idowu Faleye-led faction as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void. The Faleye-led faction, which is loyal to Fayose, has nominated fresh candidates for the chairmanship and councillorship polls. 

The candidates were selected at a primary held in the Government House and have started mobilising for the election. The plaintiffs averred that Faleye and his group lacked the constitutional power to preside over nomination of candidates. The defendants are Faleye and his co-executive members: Nelson Shaba, Tope Adejorin, Mrs. Yemisi Afolabi, Jackson Adebayo, Ayo Ogungbuyi, Ayoola Dimeji, Rashid Apempe, PDP caretaker committee and Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission. 

A statement on oath deposed to by the third plaintiff and the state Secretary, Dr. Tope Aluko, said there was a return list of candidates declared qualified to contest election into the local government election in a primary poll conducted on November 28, 2011 which was duly signed by relevant constituted authorities in accordance with the PDP constitution. 

The candidates are Adu Oloruntoba (Ekiti East), Olanrewaju Omolase (Ekiti Southwest), Gbenga Oladiran (Gbonyin), Olatunji Bakare (Ilejemeje), Joseph Arogbodo (Ido/Osi), Kayode Oni (Ekiti West), Oluwole Durodola (Ijero) and Oladele Ogundare (Oye). The plaintiffs sought an order of the court directing the 10th defendant (SIEC) not to accept any list or return list of candidates declared to contest the LG elections on behalf of (and) on the platform of the PDP. 

The Plaintiffs also prayed the court for an order that only names of candidates submitted on behalf of the PDP by the 2nd-8th claimants should be accepted by the 10th defendants (SIEC) as the duly elected candidates for elective positions in the 16 LGAs.