2019 Elections: INEC Is Subverting The Will of PDP in Ogun – Ladi Adebutu

The Governorship Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state, Hon Ladi Adebutu, has taken a swipe at the activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing the electoral umpire of subverting the will of genuine faithful of the PDP through its selective acceptance of court orders.

Adebutu, who made his displeasure known at a press conference in Lagos on Thursday, said, “INEC knows that the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, had on 18 December 2018, nullified the proceedings of the Federal High Court sent to the electoral body by Senator Buruji Kashamu. The Court of Appeal averred that, the Judge, who awarded legal victory to Kashamu erred in law, and consequently set aside his judgment.

“But interestingly, a certified true copy of the Court of Appeal judgment, which we sent to INEC, is now said to be missing. INEC claimed it cannot find the Court of Appeal judgement in its files. Does that not sound suspicious? Are we running a Banana Republic? What kind of national organisation in charge of a very important institution of democracy will act in this unpatriotic manner?”

Urging Nigerians to save the country’s young democracy from those bent on ruining it, Adebutu said INEC might be acting on directives from above by claiming ignorance of a valid court order to serve ulterior purposes, meant to favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

It would be recalled that in the lists of candidates for the 2019 elections made available on Thursday, the electoral commission had published the name of Senator Kashamu as the PDP governorship candidate in Ogun State.

Adebutu added that the Nigeria electoral umpire which should be seen to be thoroughly a fair arbiter, has for reasons best known to them taken side in who becomes the party standard bearers.

The PDP governorship candidate argued that it is the constitutional role of the National Working Committee of any party to decide who flies the party tickets, stressing that it beats his imagination that the electoral umpire has decided to act a script of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC to create confusion in the Peoples Democratic Party.

However, Adebutu said he was optimistic that the genuine interest of PDP faithful in the state in seeing him as the next democratically elected Governor of the state will see the light of the day despite the present brouhaha witnessing the party.

Dayo Rufai
Associate Media Team Head
Ladi Adebutu Democratic Party Organisation