Jimoh Ibrahim
The Ali Modu Sheriff’s faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has floored the faction led by Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC on Thursday named Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State.
INEC also named Mr. Alabi Ebenezer Omotayo as his running mate. This has sent the Sheriff’s camp into jubilation.
Until INEC’s announcement yesterday’s evening, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), was touted as the official candidate of the PDP. He is the preferred candidate of Senator Makarfi and his name had been on the party’s website as its candidate for the Ondo gubernatorial election.
In a letter, signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Mr. Augusta Ogakwu and sent to the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Segun Agbaje, INEC described the list as final.
INEC’s action is in conformity with the ruling of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which rejected a move by Jegede to appeal against the recognition of Ibrahim as the candidate of the PDP.
Justice Okon Abang, on Thursday, dismissed the application by Jegede on the grounds that he lacked the locus standi to file it.
Jegede had sought the leave of the court to appeal against the judgment directing INEC to recognise Ibrahim as the party’s candidate.
Based on an ex-parte motion brought by the Clement Faboyede-led PDP faction in the state, Justice William Olamide of the High Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Thursday restrained the INEC from removing Jegede’s name as the PDP candidate for the election.
However, an Abuja High Court had earlier on October 15, directed the commission to remove Jegede’s name for the name of the candidate of the Ali Modu Sheriff’s faction of the PDP, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim
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