Court to INEC: Recognize Sheriff’s candidates in Edo, Ondo

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting list of candidates for the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo from other leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) except from the Ali Modu Sheriff-led National Working Committee (NWC).

Justice Okon Abang in a ruling also granted an order of interlocutory injunction restraining INEC, the PDP and their agents from dealing with or according any facility required by law (regarding the gubernatorial elections to be conducted by INEC in Edo and Ondo states) to any other persons or group other than the Sheriff, Prof. Wale Oladipo and Fatai Adeyanju -led NWC of the party

The judge directed INEC and the PDP and their agents to “recognize, deal with and accord all facilities required by law on the Sheriff group.

Justice Abang further directed INEC and the PDP to “reject and ignore any activity (including primary elections/congresses for the nomination of candidates for the gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states, purportedly conducted on behalf of the 2nd defendant (PDP) by any other persons or group of persons other than the Sheriff group.

The judge said the interlocutory orders are to subsist pending the determination of the substantive suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/439/2016 filed by two governorship aspirants of the PDP in Edo and Ondo States – Chief Benson Akingboye (Ondo) and Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma (Edo).