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Tag: Ogun state

  • Police warn Ogun residents against thuggery, violence

    The Police Command in Ogun State on Thursday, appealed to the people in the state to desist from thuggery and violence to ensure peaceful conduct of election on Saturday.

    Mr Bimbola Oyeyemi, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the command,made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Oyeyemi, however, warned that the command would not tolerate any act of thuggery and violence during the election.

    Read Also: Violence mars Ogun APC rally

    He said the command had been prepared for the exercising, adding that it had deployed many personnel across the state to check and curb any misconduct during the election.

    “Three Commissioners of Police have been deployed to the three senatorial districts in Ogun to man the election on Saturday,” he said.

    The PPRO listed the three senatorial districts that would be covered by each commissioner of police to include: Ogun Central, Ogun West and Ogun East.

    NAN

     

  • Man, 44, ‘rapes’ six-year-old girl

    The police in Ogun State have arrested a 44-year-old man, who allegedly defiled his neighbour’s six-year-old daughter.

    Rafiu Moruf, the police said, was nabbed on Monday after the victim’s mother became aware that he had raped her daughter.

    Moruf, said to be living with his wife in a house behind Aferiku Secondary School, Idiroko, allegedly raped the minor.

    Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the girl confessed to her mother after she noticed that her daughter acted strangely.

    Read also: Shun misconduct, VC tells freshers

    He said: “Upon close examination, the woman found semen in the girl’s private parts. She questioned her and she confessed that the suspect took her to his room and forcefully had carnal knowledge of her.

    “The woman reported at the Idiroko Police Station and detectives went to the suspect’s house and arrested him.

    “On interrogation, the suspect confessed to have committed the crime. The victim has been taken to hospital.”

  • Amosun pays ex-political office holders N1.1 billion severance package

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Wednesday paid N1.1 billion severance allowance to former political office holders in the State.

    Amosun said he has so far paid a total of N2.6 billion to former political office holders at the state and local government levels.

    The governor, who made this known while giving cheques to beneficiaries at the Arcade ground Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, added that some were opposed to the idea of paying the money few weeks to the elections.

    He noted those not comfortable with him paying the severance package reasoned it would mean empowering the oppositions among the beneficiaries.

    Amosun explained he was paying the money to former political office holders, including members of the opposition party, because they deserved to be recognised and rewarded for the service to the state.

    However, Amosun said consultants and special advisers in the local governments are not captured by law, stating he was following the law to the letter.

    Read Also: Abiodun will succeed Amosun, says Osoba

    The governor promised not to owe any worker before the expiration of his tenure, maintaining all the deduction of workers will be settled before the end of his administration.

    He said the wage bill of the state stood at about N3.9 billion when he became governor, stressing the bill has increased to N9.3 billion while the federal allocation keeps dropping almost every month.

    Amosun revealed his predecessor received, many times,  as much as over N9 billion from the federation account, saying the highest he has ever collected was only in October 2011 when N6.1 billion was given to the state.

    According to him, the amount has nosedived to less than N2 billion in recent times.

  • Kashamu our son, say Remo monarchs

    Monarchs in Remoland have described the Governorship Candidate of the PDP in Ogun State, Senator Buruji Kashamu as “a son of the soil”.

    Speaking in Sagamu on Wednesday when Kashamu visited the Remo Traditional Rulers-in-Council, the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Babatunde Ajayi expressed gratitude to the monarchs in Remoland for joining him to receive “our son”.

    He expressed hope when Kashamu gets to office he will not forget the traditional institution as promised.

    Oba Ajayi also commended the governorship candidate for giving priority to the issue of local government autonomy, adding that it was one issue dear to his heart.

    He added that they had been receiving other governorship candidates but this was an exception.

    “He is the only who has come with a policy document and a letter of undertaking so that we can hold him accountable should he depart from his promises.

    Read Also: Court to hear Kashamu extradition case March 8

    “I would like to appeal to all the Kabiyesi to please read the policy document, ” Oba Ajayi said

    Ewusi of Makun-Sagamu, Oba Timothy Akinsanya, commended Kashamu for the leadership traits and political maturity that he displayed on the 13th of January, 2019 when some hoodlums acting on the instructions of a member of the House of Representatives attacked his supporters and destroyed his campaign vehicles in Sagamu at the New Year/Thanksgiving Service of former Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel.

    Oba Akinsanya prayed for Kashamu and asked God to make his aspiration a reality.

    The Onirolu of Irolu, His Royal Highness, Oba Sikiru Adeyiga and the Oludotun of Idotun-Ikene, His Royal Highness, Oba Odunayo Solarin, also took turns to pray for Kashamu’s success at the polls.

    Oba Ajayi presented to Kashamu the Remo Growth and Development Plan, which he said, is usually presented to “special people who stand a good chance of assuming leadership”.

    The plan, he added, was put together by the Remo Foundation.

  • Drama at Ogun APC Presidential rally

    The presidential rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, ended abruptly yesterday.

    Scores of hoodlums chanting the slogan of a rival party and its governorship candidate seized the main bowl of the stadium, pelted dignitaries, including President Muhammadu Buhari, with stones.

    But the President’s security aides shielded him from harm.

    President Buhari arrived the stadium around 3 p.m in company of Vice-President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and former APC Interim Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    Others are: former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, former Ogun State Governor Aremo Segun Osoba and the party’s governorship candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

    The party’s leaders hurriedly raised the hand of Abiodun after addressing the rally.

    Trouble began when Oshiomhole took the microphone and announced that they were in the state for the presidential campaign and to give Abiodun the emblem of the party as the governorship candidate.

    The hoodlums were apparently waiting for the announcement as they immediately started hurling stones and other objects at the APC leaders and other dignitaries.

    There was chaos and apprehension everywhere.

    The people scampered for safety while the hoodlums refused to be calmed when Governor Ibikunle Amosun pleaded with them not to “disgrace” him.

    Before the arrival of President Buhari and other dignitaries, scores of the hoodlums, who had continued singing the slogan of a rival governorship candidate and his party, had sacked supporters of the Prince Abiodun from the stadium.

    Other APC members and supporters seated and awaiting the arrival of the President were also chased away as the thugs hurled stones, shoes and other weapons at them.

    Many were injured in the sustained attacks, forcing thousands of people to leave the stadium while they awaited the President’s arrival.

    The attacks began few minutes to 1 p.m and peaked about 45 minutes later. Within 10 minutes, all the seats and positions occupied by Abiodun’s supporters and others APC members were deserted.

    The stones and objects the hoodlums hurled at the guests fell on them in torrents.

    Some of the hoodlums were overheard brazenly boasting that “this is Ogun and nobody can intimidate us”.

    The thugs kept throwing stones even when the APC members and supporters of Abiodun began to flee from the venue.

    Elderly men and women and party supporters laboured to scale the stadium’s fence in desperate bid to escape the attacks many alleged was sponsored by the governor.

    Outside the stadium, gunshots rang out repeatedly.

    Dozens of armed soldiers and other security agencies battled to prevent the entry of another batch of hoodlums who were allegedly ferried to the venue to sustain the assault on the rally inside the main bowl of the stadium.

    Many were appalled that the Fuji musician called to entertain at the event, prodded the hoodlums on with inciting lyrics.

    Security agents, who ought to ensure orderliness at the venue, acted as though it was not their business.

    There were fears about the safety of APC chieftains, like former deputy governor, Senator Gbenga Kaka, Abiodun’s running mate, Noimot Oyedele-Salako, Chief Tolu Odebiyi and others.

    Many wondered if they were able to leave the stadium unscathed.

    Senator Kaka accused security agencies of unprofessional conduct.

    He added that they looked away while dignitaries were attacked by political thugs.

     

  • Vote candidates of your choice, Buhari tells Ogun residents

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday charged Ogun State residents to vote for the candidates of their choice.

    He gave the advice during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential campaign rally at the M.K.O Abiola Stadium in Ogun State.

    But proceedings at the rally were interrupted severally by the fans who were divided over who the next Ogun State Governor should be.

    While Ogun State Governor  Ibikunle Amosun is supporting the reelection of President Buhari and the Ogun State governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Adekunle Akinlade, the National APC and former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba are behind the APC Governorship candidate in the state, Dapo Abiodun.

    The atmosphere was tensed throughout the duration of the rally.

    The fans intermittently disrupted the speech of those opposed to their candidates by booing them and shouting ‘Olee’, ‘Olee’, ‘Olee’.

    They also threw empty water container and their placards at the pavilion, where the dignitaries were seated.

    The ugly treatment was meted out specifically to the former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aragbesola and the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole when they were called forward to make their remarks.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Amosun took time to appeal to the fans to let peace reign.

    The dignitaries at the pavilion gently filed to their buses and jeeps as the rally was coming to end with the President’s speech to avoid the missiles from the aggrieved fans.

    The President stressed that it is the right of the residents to vote for the candidates of their choice.

    He urged them to come out on Saturday in high number to exercise their civic right.

    “I appeal to you to vote whoever you like. It is your right,” he said

    Noting that Nigeria is now virtually self-sufficient in rice production, he said that Ogun State, Lagos State among other states have been doing well in rice production.

    According to him, his administration has done well in the three areas of security, economy and fighting corruption.

    He said that his administration is poised to take the nation to the next level in the next four years.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo promised that the government will specifically create more jobs, fix electricity and give more money to traders in the next four years.

    Read also: Our mission impartial, says Chair Commonwealth Observer Group

    He pointed out that nothing can be done to develop the nation except honest leaders are voted into power.

    According to him, President Buhari has an honest character and all those opposing him are well aware of the President’s unique qualities.

    “We have to vote for the President on Saturday,” he said

    Amosun urged the residents to vote for President Buhari on Saturday but that they know what to do concerning the governorship election and other elections in the state.

    Pleading with the angry fans to swallow their anger in the interest of APC, he said that the state is supporting President Buhari of his love for Ogun State people and because of his performance in governance.

    He said that those opposing him, are doing so because they want to loot the treasury.

    Amosun also noted that President Buhari is the only President that acknowledged and recognized the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola, who was son of the soil.

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Oshiomhole urged the crowd to vote for APC from the top to the bottom.

    At the rally were the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Osinbajo’s wife, Mrs. Dolapo, Ogun State APC Governorship candidate, Dapo Abiodun, former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba.

    Others include Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi.

  • APC raises alarm over Amosun move to outsmarts Abiodun during Buhari’s visit

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state is alleged to have perfected a game of subterfuge and intrigues ahead of tomorrow’s All Progressives Congress(APC) presidential rally, not only to conceal his steady support for the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) to President Muhammadu Buhari, but also to take the shine off Prince Adedapo Abiodun, the APC governorship candidate in the state during the rally.

    Buses, hitherto, branded with APM emblem, logo and images of governorship candidate and Deputy, and being used for campaign tours since, were hurriedly brought into the Presidential lodge, GRA, Abeokuta, for rebranding to conform with the APC looks, it was learnt, ostensibly to ferry members of APM from across the the state  to the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, venue of the planned presidential rally on Monday.
    It was also learnt that Amosun had perfected arrangement to pass members of APM off as that of APC and its supporters by dressing in the same attires the governorship candidate of the party, Abiodun and his supporters, had planned to adorn for the rally.
    The essence, it was alleged, is to enable APM members have unfettered and undetected access to the stadium, where they would be expected to do the biddings of the Governor who, it was alleged further, is bent on clandestinely undermine the chances of Abiodun to pave way for his preferred candidate, Abdulkabir Adekunle Akinlade, of the APM to emerge victorious come March 2.
    And in the last one week, campaign materials of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) – its various billboards, flexes and signposts bearing the pictures of the governorship candidate Akinladeand running mate were taken down and removed to pave way for replacement with those of APC, President Muhammadu Buhari and Amosun or the President and Vice, Yemi Osinbajo.
    The development is evidential along the Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway and some places in Oke – Ilewo area of the state capital where APM billboards, lampposts and other campaign materials hoisted along the way had disappeared and been replaced with that of APC.
     It is being said that Amosun might have given instruction for the removal of the APM billboards and campaign materials, especially in routes likely to be passed by the President and his entourage, as an indication that he is withdrawing support for Akinlade and APM on alleged order of the President but sources close to the APM camp said it was a smokescreen.
    The source added that Amosun is solidly behind Akinlade and APM.
    The governor has consistently  vowed never to support any governorship candidate other than the APM flag bearer, his preferred  gubernatorial candidate, Akinlade, who lost the APC ticket to Prince Dapo Abiodun in separate primaries.
    The Nation, however, gathered that the Ogun APC, its supporters and candidates for the elections were also ready and determined to scuttle any alleged anti – APC, Anti – Abiodun moves of the Governor and his collaborators.
    Already, the has raised an alarm, alleging  that Governor Amosun was sponsoring APM members to cause violence in Ogun during and after the presidential rally.
    In a statement on Sunday by Tunde Oladunjoye, the Publicity Secretary, Ogun APC Caretaker Committee, he stated that the planned violence  is meant  to embarrass the President and attack APC members at the rally.
    Oladunjoye stated further that the plot  have actually been on in the last one month, and is only being perfected with the planned rally, stressing that the Governor is mobilizing people who had received instruction  to boo the President when he hands over the party  flag to the APC governorship candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
    He stated: “It has become necessary to alert the general public, especially the security agencies, that the members of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), being sponsored by the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, are planning to disrupt and cause mayhem and bloodshed at the Presidential Rally slated for the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, tomorrow, Monday.
    “Intelligence reports at our disposal reveal that leaders of the surrogate party have been circulating messages to their members to attend the APC Presidential Rally in specific uniforms and campaign materials, in such a way that they will be identified and saved from attacks that will be unleashed on APC members as soon as the flag is presented to the APC candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
    “The plan to embarrass the President and attack our members at the rally  have actually been on for about a month, and it is only being perfected now. Governor Amosun is mobilizing people who have been instructed to boo the President when he hands over the flag to the APC governorship candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
    “To prepare grounds for this machination, some hoodlums were empowered to paint some of the  signages of APM with black paints with the evil intention of ascribing the act to APC members. This was the same thing Amosun did in 2003 and heaped the blame on Aremo Olusegun Osoba.
    “Violent uproars will also be sponsored in some local government councils and development areas with a plan to suspend their Chairmen who have been tagged as loyalists of Prince Dapo Abiodun.
    Nine of these Chairmen have been removed from the Whatsapp  group of the Ogun State Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), while some of them already had their salaries and allowances put on hold. In fact, their suspension have been held back because of the visit of Mr. President.
    ” While the APC welcomes all supporters and members of the public to the rally, we want to reiterate that the rally is APC Rally. We shall also hold the security agencies to their publicly expressed promise to deal with anyone who attempts to cause disorder before, during and after the rally.”

  • 52 students inducted at RCCG college’s first matriculation

    The Rector of Redeemer’s College of Technology and Management,(RECTEM), Redemption Camp,  Ogun State,  Prof Adedeji Daramola has said the institution was set to equip students with the right knowledge to be technically productive.

    He said RECTEM would be research intensive and technology based through its set patterns of exploratory innovations.  It will engage it’s students in rigorous academic study and practical exploratory discoveries.

    Speaking at the first matriculation of 52 students from nine departments in the college he said “the quality of our training is high and we are not comprising the quality of our students.  We are training the middle level manpower, to create a pool of highly trained technicians and technologists that will support the nation’s engineering infrastructural development as well as the growth and development of the country’s small and mediums Enterprises”.

    He noted that the founder of the college,  Pastor E.A  Adeboye had a clear concept to enhance the standard of technical education in the country through building the human capacity in the field of science, technology and management, thus his heavily investment in the college.

    He said the journey which started four years ago,  got licence to operate three months ago.

    With an affordable tuition fee of N190,000, excluding accommodation , he said students would be practically trained to meet the demands of the society.

    Daramola added that all the nine programme are of international standard and  approved  by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). The college is also awaiting the final approval of a new engineering programme-Civil Engineering by NBTE board. With that approval,  the college would have ten programs at its inception, having the record of been the only private polytechnic in the country to have approval for ten programme at its inception.

    It will also soon commence Mechanical Engineering programme after fulfilling all the requirements by the NBTE.

    The rector advised the students to always have the God factor,  be determined and focused to be successful in life.

    Earlier,  he  National Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church, Pastor Joseph Obayemi who represented the General Overseer, E. Adeboye advised that  wisdom, knowledge and understanding are the necessary virtues the college needs to imbibe to fulfill the mission of it’s establishment.

    He commended the founder for his courage and vision  to address the lapses in the technical education.

  • Scores injured, as thugs again attack APC supporters in Ogun

    Again, the campaign train of the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, came under attack by political thugs suspected to be working for a particular governorship candidate of an opposition political party in the state, injuring several supporters of Abiodun.

    The thugs armed with knives, machetes and guns allegedly attacked Abiodun campaign on their way to Ofada town shortly after addressing thousands of party members and supporters who had trooped out to receive him in Owode town in Obafemi – Owode Local Government Area of the state.

    The Nation gathered that as the campaign train was heading towards Ofada, the hoodlums ambushed them and began to shoot sporadically, hurling stones in torrents at their vehicles.

    Read also: I’ve delivered on my campaign promises, says Buhari

    While the security men attached to the campaign convoy managed to evacuate the gubernatorial candidate of APC to safety,  some of his supporters were not lucky as they sustained various degree of injuries varying from gunshot wound, machete and beating while atmosphere of chaos and tension lasted. Some of the campaign vehicles were also destroyed.

    This latest incident makes it two times that Abiodun campaign train had come under attack since the beginning of February. A week ago, same ugly incident occurred as his campaign train was attacked at the Elega area of Abeokuta North Local Government during his ward to ward campaign tour of the area.

    However, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, told The Nation that no report of the Friday incident has been brought to the notice of the Police.

    Abimbola, a Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP), said every governorship candidate in the state has been given adequate security personnel to secure lives and properties during campaign tour, stressing that if there was any of such attacks, it has not yet been reported in any police division within Ogun state.

  • Stop misleading voters, Kashamu tells Secondus

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State Senator Buruji Kashamu has urged the party’s national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, to stop misleading voters.

    Kashamu, who was reacting to a letter written by Secondus and the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ibrahim Umaru Tsauri to INEC asking the electoral body to recognize Honourable Ladi Adebutu as the party’s governorship candidate, said the letter was a tissue of lies meant to blackmail INEC.

    He declared the ploy would fail.

    Kashamu, in a 4th of February, 2019 letter entitled, “Re: Final List of Nominated Candidates in Ogun State” addressed to the National Chairman, accused Secondus of twisting facts with a view to blackmailing INEC.

    According to Kashamu, the Secondus’ letter “drips with the usual lies and blackmail that you have always peddled to obfuscate obvious facts and issues that are glaringly in the public domain.”

    He added: “Ordinarily, I would not have responded since the Commission is aware of the issues and has the benefit of sound legal advice from senior lawyers and experts. However, since you are not tired of telling lies, I would also not be tired of telling the truth and exposing your lies to the whole world.”

    Going into the genesis of the crisis, Kashamu said, “The indubitable fact is that the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had on the 24th of June, 2016, delivered a judgment in which it directed the PDP and INEC to deal exclusively with the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State PDP Executive.

    “This same judgment was reaffirmed by the Honourable Justice M.B. Idris on the 9th of February, 2018.

    “These two judgments formed the basis of the 12th of April, 2018 letter written to you by the Commission in which it informed you of its decision to comply with the terms of both judgments.”

    Kashamu said despite the judgments and INEC’s position, the PDP leadership under Secondus opted to act contrary to the position of the law by supporting an illegal executive in the state.

    “If you chose to disobey the law and INEC decided to obey the law, how can you blame me for your misfortune?” Kashamu asked Secondus.

    Read Also: Secondus to APC: Don’t kill Buhari with undue pressure

    The letter reads further, “Contrary to your claims, I wish to remind you that in its guidelines for the 2019 general election dated the 4th October, 2019, INEC expressly stated that notwithstanding its requirements for the National Chairman and National Secretary to endorse the Commission’s Nomination Forms (not PDP’s nomination forms), it added in Item 6.1 that, ‘Political Parties are to note that where there is a Court Order in respect of the nomination of any candidate, the Commission shall be guided by such Order.’

    “Now, in the Ogun State PDP case, there are three subsisting judgments of the High Court and two rulings of the Court of Appeal. In its 25th of October, 2018 letter to you, the Commission referred to three suits, namely FHC/L/CS/636/2016; FHC/L/CS/1556/2017 and FHC/AB/CS/114/2018.

    It was the interlocutory orders in one out of the three suits (i.e. FHC/AB/CS/114/2018) that were determined by the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan on the 18th of December, 2018, leaving the final judgments in the two other cases (FHC/L/CS/636/2016; FHC/L/CS/1556/2017) that came first-in-time subsisting and valid till date.

    “The only appeal against one of the two subsisting and final judgments was dismissed by the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on the 4th of May, 2017. A further attempt to relist it was struck out on the 11th of July, 2018.

    “The second judgment by the Honourable Justice M.B. Idris (now of the Court of Appeal) was not appealed at all.

    “It is inconceivable that the same person who deliberately flouts valid and subsisting rulings and judgments of court could turn round to blame the Commission for his contemptuous acts against the court and the whole judiciary.

    “Mr. Chairman, you are the one choosing and picking the judgments to obey. You lack the moral right to accuse the Commission of what you are known for.

    “If the National Chairman and National Secretary of the PDP willfully refused to sign forms that were duly submitted to them in spite of subsisting court judgments directing them to accord recognition to the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State PDP Exco and its activities, including the conduct of congresses/primaries, how can they hold the judgment creditors or the Commission liable for their disobedience?

    “It was based on the valid and subsisting judgments of court (not only the interlocutory orders of the FHC, Abeokuta) that Engr. Adebayo Dayo, as the Chairman of the Ogun State PDP Exco, presided over the congress (es) where candidates were elected in line with Section 25(1) of the Peoples Democratic Party Constitution 2017 (as amended) which states: ‘There shall be a State Party Congress which shall consist of: The State Chairman who shall be the Chairman.

    “’Section 25(2C) states further: ‘The function of the State Congress shall be to: (c)     Elect Governorship candidates of the Party’, among others.’

    “It is from the congress chaired by the State Chairman that the list of candidates to represent a Party can be generated and submitted to the Commission.

    “The role of the national leadership or its representatives is merely nominal and observatory. More so, such roles are subject to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act and the PDP Constitution.  It does not give the national leadership of the Party the latitude to act irresponsibly or illegally compile list of candidates.

    “When the INEC guidelines say the National Chairman and National Secretary are to sign the Commission’s Nomination Forms, it never envisaged a situation where the leaders of a political party would not obey valid and subsisting judgments of court. Thankfully, the Commission gave the proviso that, ‘…where there is a Court Order in respect of the nomination of any candidate, the Commission shall be guided by such Order’.”

    Kashamu added: “It is also misleading and mischievous to claim that the Commission based its decision to accept, process and publish the list of Ogun State PDP candidates on the ‘judgment of the High Court (Abeokuta’s Division)’.

    “As stated above, INEC’s decision was based on three suits. The Federal High Court order that was set aside is just one out of the three suits cited by the Commission.

    “Two final judgments of court of competent jurisdiction are still valid, binding and subsisting. Even the order said to have been set aside had been overtaken by events.

    “On the so-called implications of the judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, I challenge you to quote a part of the judgment that validated your claim or declared Adebutu as the Ogun State PDP governorship candidate.

    “For the umpteenth time, I would refer you to the findings of the Court of Appeal at page 12 of the judgment wherein the Court held, ‘The action instituted at the Lower Court is also not in respect of selection or nomination of candidates to represent the 1st Appellant at an election nor is it a complaint against any election, decision or activity of the INEC (10th Respondent). It is in my view, simply an inter-party (sic) dispute between two factions of the party as to which of the factions is the legitimate State Executive of the P.D.P in Ogun State. This appeal is therefore not in respect of a pre-election matter.’

    “The findings and decision of the Court of Appeal in the Judgment of 18th December, 2018, clearly shows that the subject of the said appeal was neither related to pre-election issues nor the nomination of candidates to represent the Ogun State PDP at the election.

    “Therefore, since the said appeal and judgment do not relate to the list of candidates that would represent the Ogun State PDP at the February 16 and March 2, 2019 elections, the Court of Appeal could not have pronounced on the list of candidates from Ogun State.

    “What is more, as can be clearly seen on the face of the appeal, Adebutu was not a party to the appeal. So, how can anyone claim that he is a beneficiary of the judgment?

    “It was when you and Adebutu realised that the appeal court judgment did not enure in your favour that you hurriedly and surreptitiously went to the FCT High Court to file a suit meant to ambush me and my associates.

    “You wanted the court to declare Adebutu as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun State without joining me as an interested party or someone who would be affected by the outcome of the suit. It was by providence that I got to know of the suit and applied to be joined in the matter.

    “Again, the devilish move backfired when the court found that you acted in flagrant disobedience of subsisting judgment (s), refused your prayers and dismissed the suit.

    “The FCT High Court expressly held on the 14th of January, 2019 that since all the actions of the national leadership of the Party were done in defiance of valid and subsisting court judgments they could not stand.

    “So, what is all the lies and blackmail against INEC about? The Commission has acted rightly – in line with its avowed commitment to be law-abiding and rein in political parties when they act illegally and irresponsibly as in this case.”

    Kashamu advised Secondus to desist from dragging the name of the party in the mud and support him for PDP to win in Ogun State.