There was a mild drama at the Federal High Court, Akure in Ondo State capital, as the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) dissociated from the suit filed by its candidate, Gbenga Edema, challenging the candidature of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his running mate, Dr Olaiyide Adelami.
The drama ensued when Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa brought to the attention of the court a letter by the national legal adviser of the party, Mr. Robert Hon, distancing the party from the suit over the primary that produced Aiyedatiwa as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
In the letter from the office of the National Legal Adviser, dated December 10, 2024, and addressed to Adelanke Akinrata titled “Letter of Instructions,” urged the court to delist NNPP’s name from the suit.
The letter read that “The above captioned subject matter refers. We hereby brief you to represent our interest in Suit No. FHC/AK/CS/103/2024 wherein we were purported to have sued the defendants as the 2nd Plaintiff.
“You are specifically instructed to withdraw the name of the 2nd Plaintiff, New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP), from the suit.
“The second Plaintiff did not instruct the first Plaintiff or anybody to sue the defendants in its name. You are requested to liaise with the office of the National Legal Adviser for further details”
Consequently, Adegboruwa asked the counsel of the plaintiffs to withdraw the suit for the court to strike out the case. He said there was no need to waste the time of the court on the case.
While reacting to the development, counsel to the defendants, represented by Dr. Remi Olatubora, Kola Olawoye, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, said it was scandalous for a litigant to use the name of a party to sue without due consultation. He said the case should be withdrawn and be struck out by the court.
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Olatubora while speaking on behalf of others said the fact that the letter by the NNPP was brought to the court by the state chairman of the party, Mr Peter Olagookun showed the authenticity of the position of the party on the APC’s primary.
However, counsel to INEC, Chief Charles Edosomwan, asked the court to dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction and that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi to file the suit.
In his response, the lawyer to Edema, Abayomi Ojo, said that the candidate was not aware of the letter, and would need time to study the content.
He sought adjournment of the court to respond to the letter, which he said was in court for the first time.
It will be recalled that NNPP candidate, Edema has asked the court to compel the INEC to withdraw the nomination and the publication of the names of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his deputy as candidates.
Edema, in the suit, asked the court to interpret the applicability of Section 15 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) over the nomination of the APC candidates.
But the NNPP, through its National Legal Adviser, Mr. Hon, said the party did not authorize any suit against the candidature of Governor Aiyedatiwa and his Deputy. He asked the name of the party be withdrawn from the suit.
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