A governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, Barrister Kunle Adegoke, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking the nullification of the party’s primary election.
APC in Osun state had conducted its primary election on July 20 adopting the direct primary system.
Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, the Chief of Staff to the outgoing Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, had emerged from the primary election as the party’s candidate ahead of the September 22 governorship election in the state.
The party had declared Oyetola as the winner of the primary election in which 16 other aspirants including Adegoke participated.
But Adegoke was displeased by the conduct of the primary and vowed to ensure that the fallout did not stand.
Among Adegoke’s prayers is that the court should prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the outcome of the exercise.
In his suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/804/2018, which he filed on Friday, the aspirant argued that the conduct of the party’s primary election violated the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2010 as well as the relevant provisions of the APC Constitution and the Regulation for the Conduct of Political Party Primaries of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The suit filed on his behalf by his lawyer, Mr. Ayotunde Ogunleye, had APC and INEC as the two defendants.
In an affidavit filed in support of his originating summons, the plaintiff alleged that the “direct method” adopted by the party allowing all general members of the party to vote in the primary election “was a departure from the extant 2014 guidelines of the party”.
He stated that contrary to the development in Osun State, “the indirect method of primary election was used in Edo State in 2016, Ondo State in 2016, Anambra State in 2017 and Ekiti State in May 2018”.
He noted that he had also, in an open letter, challenged the National Chairman of the party, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, informing him that there was no membership register of the party by which the party could conduct a credible direct primary election.
He also said he informed Oshimhole that the adoption of direct primary election without membership register would be in flagrant violation of the Constitution of the party due to the time of its adoption vis-à-vis the general requirements of the law.
Adegoke, a lawyer, said APC failed to notify him as an aspirant or the INEC in writing not later than 21 days to the date of the primaries, the details including the specific location and venue, date and time for the conduct of its nomination of candidate before holding the election.
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