PDP primary: Court strikes out motion seeking to disqualify Ondo Deputy Governor

Reprieve came the way of Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi, as an Akure High Court struck out a motion seeking to stop him from participating in Wednesday primary election of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The presiding Judge, Justice Bode Adegbehingbe, asked the plaintiff to serve all parties in the suit instead of coming through a motion exparte.

A member of the PDP, Mr. Olopele Konstante Timi had through his counsel, Akpofiweii Anthony asked the court to disqualify Ajayi over allegation that his certificate was forged.

Olopele, in the suit, said Hon. Ajayi breached the code of conduct for public officers and should therefore be banned from holding any public office for a maximum period of ten years going forward.

The experte motion brought before the court was instituted with originating summon that was dated July 17, 2020 with suit no. AK/45M/2020.

Olopele said Ajayi has consistently acted in breach of Section 1, 5th Schedule, Part 1 of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers as well as breach of the provisions of the regulations of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) Act, Cap W4 Law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.

Justice Adegbehingbe threw out the motion exparte and fixed the hearing of the substantive suit on July 30, 2020.

Ajayi had through his Media Adviser, Allen Sowore, said the facts and issues in the suit were the same as the case already adjudicated upon by the Court of Appeal in case appeal number: CA/B/EPT/330A/2008 between himself and Prince Olubukola Ebietomiye of the Democratic People’s Alliance, (DPA) in 2007, wherein he was absolved of any wrong doing.