The Abuja Federal High Court (FHC) led by Justice Abdul Kafarati has ordered that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should remove the Oyinlola’s name as national secretary within three days.
The Court ordered the ruling party to replace the former National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, with Prof. Wale Oladipo.
It would be recalled that Oyinlola, PDP and INEC were listed as the defendants in the application filed by Ogun State PDP.
The order by the Abuja FHC is a follow-up to the judgment in January 11, 2013 which the sacked Oyinlola as National Secretary of PDP.
But Oyinlola had argued that the court should leave the matter closed since an earlier judgment had been delivered on the same matter.
Besides, reacting to the court judgment, Oyinlola said his lawyers would respond appropriately later on.
He confirmed that he had earlier appealed the judgment on his suspension at the Court of Appeal.
In his reaction to the court’s order, Oladipo appreciated the efforts of the President Goodluck Jonathan, Tukur and the party.
“I thank the judiciary for creating the environment for the party to choose. It’s now crystal clear that internal democracy is well and alive within our party courtesy of President Jonathan and the leadership of the PDP.”
However, Justice Kafarati, in his ruling, had dismissed the objections raised by Oyinlola as it was held that the court did not intend to effect changes in theJanuary 11 judgment by granting the orders sought by the plaintiffs.
Kafarati maintained that it meant to “regularise the steps taken in compliance with the judgment”.
He further held that the application has no effect on the judgment as well as the appeal filed by Oyinlola.
He also noted that “the mere filing of a notice of appeal does not serve as a ground to stay proceedings” as it did not provide an evidence before the court that Oyinlola’s appeal had been transmitted to the Court of Appeal.
Hence the Abuja FHC granted the application and ordered PDP and INEC to ensure the replacement of Oyinlola’s name with that of Oladipo as PDP National Secretary within three days.
In a related development, Chief Ebenezer Babatope who is a member of PDP Board of Trustees, said that his loyalty to President Goodluck Jonathan, and PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, remained unshaken.
“I have no comment. I am a member of the Alhaji Tukur-led PDP. I don’t believe in any other mushroom organization”, he stated.