By Lukman Olabiyi
A Federal High Court, Lagos, presided over by Justice Akintayo Aluko has been prayed to nullify the substitution of candidate name by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the state House of Assembly, Ajeromi Ifelodun Consetuency II for 2023 general election.
The prayer was made in a suit filed by an aspirant, Olasheni Toheeb Ajadi, against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the PDP and one Taofeek Olajide Kuye over alleged illegal substitution of his name as candidate for the House of Assembly seat.
The court has fixed August 22 for hearing of the suit.
In the affidavit in support of the suit, Ajadi gave detailed account of how the party illegally substituted his name after emerging as PDP candidate for his constituency through an election conducted by the party on May 23.
Among the reliefs the plaintiff is seeking before court are: A declaration that it is unlawful for PDP to recognise and forward to INEC the name of Kuye who is the third defendant or any other person except Ajadi as PDP’s candidate for Ajeromi Ifelodun Constituency II, in the Lagos State House of Assembly; adeclaration that it is unlawful for PDP to change the result of the primary it conducted for Ajeromi Ifelodun Constituency, on May 23, 2022 in which Ajadi emerged winner and was so declared by the party; a declaration that the submission of any name of candidate by the party to INEC not being the name of the Ajadi for Ajeromi Ifelodun Constituency II, in the Lagos State House of Assembly is unlawful, null and void; a declaration that the plaintiff is the duly elected flag bearer or candidate of PDP for the 2023 general election into the Lagos State House of Assembly to represent the Ajeromi Ifelodun Constituency, II, having polled the majority of lawful votes cast at the primary election conducted by the party on May 23, 2022 and was so declared the winner; an order setting aside the publication (if any) of the name of Kuye or any other person apart from the plaintiff as the duly nominated candidate of PDP to contest the 2023 General Elections into Ajeromi Ifelodun Constituency II, in the Lagos State House of Assembly; an order of mandatory injunction directing the party to submit the name of the plaintiff to INEC as PDP’s candidate for Ajeromi Ifelodun Constituency II, in the Lagos State House of Assembly.