By Oloniruha Emmanuel
Sen. Ahmed Makarfi faction of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the clearance of Mr Jimoh Ibrahim as the party’s candidate for Ondo State governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on Thursday published Ibrahim’s name as candidate of PDP in the Nov. 26 state election.
The PDP National Caretaker Committee, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, in Abuja on Friday said that PDP had appeal the decision.
Adeyeye stated that the clearance of Ibrahim by INEC completely disregarded the Order of Justice Olamide of the Ondo State High Court.
The court had restrained INEC from substituting the name of its candidate, Mr Eyitayo Jegede.
Adeyeye said the party was surprised of INEC’s choice instead of heeding to the order given by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
He said such actions had resulted in massive protests in many parts of Ondo State.
Adeyeye stated that the people of Ondo had taken to the streets to express displeasure at the schemes to deny their preferred candidate, Jegede, from contesting.
“It is worrisome that INEC and Justice Abang have insisted on toeing a path of illegality by ignoring our validly convened primaries.
“They ignored the primary and the candidate produced thereafter in favour of a candidate who emerged from an illegal primary election exercise,” he said.
He described the current events as part of a ploy by external forces, to deprive Jegede and PDp of the chance of winning the election.
“We wish to urge our teeming members and supporters in Ondo State to resist the temptation to take law into their hands.
“We are aware of the plan of our political opponents to create chaos as a cover to achieve their dastardly objectives.
“We have filed the requisite appeals at the Court of Appeal. We believe that within the shortest possible time, these illegal actions will be reversed.
“We have faith in the judiciary that the illegalities will be reversed,” Adeyeye said.
He reassured PDP members and supporters in the state that, even if the reversal of those actions take place only a few days to the elections, PDP’s victory is certain.(NAN)
