Senator Adeola’s disqualification suit begins in Abeokuta

Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports.

The suit to disqualify Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola from running for the Ogun West Senatorial seat on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform in the 2023 general elections began yesterday at the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The plaintiffs, Johnson Akinsanya Akindele, Moses Babalola Oluwasaanu, and Taiwo Akanbi Orobiyi, are seeking a court order disqualifying Senator Adeola from contesting the election on the grounds that he is already a serving Senator in the National Assembly representing Lagos West Senatorial district.

In the FHC/ABK5/132/22 suit, the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the National Assembly are also named as defendants.

On Wednesday, Counsel Seni Adio, SAN represented the plaintiffs, who claimed to be APC members in sworn affidavits, but Senator Adeola’s counsel, Bode Olanipekun, SAN, told the court that the case did not qualify as a pre-election matter under the 1999 constitution.

Olanipekun argued that only an aspirant or a political party has the right to file a pre-election case, and that none of the plaintiffs fit into any of the categories of who should file a pre-election case.

Furthermore, Babatunde Ogala, SAN, counsel for the APC, adopted Bode Olanipekun, SAN’s submission, arguing that the case was not filed in accordance with the applicable rules.

Ogala also claimed that none of the plaintiffs will personally benefit from the relief sought in the case, claiming that they have nothing to gain or lose as a result of the situation.

The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Seni Adio, SAN, countered that the case qualified to be treated as a pre-election issue because it was a constitutional action and a test case.

The court adjourned further proceedings until September 29, 2022, after hearing both counsels’ arguments and counter-arguments.