The embattled Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan, on Thursday, challenged the judgment of an Oyo State High Court which dismissed the application challenging the legality of the state House of Assembly to remove him from office.
Justice Ladiran Akintola of an Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, dismissed the suit, stating that the House of Assembly has not breached the provisions of the constitution on the removal of a governor or deputy governor.
Confirming the development to Daily Trust after the High Court judgment, Counsel to Olaniyan, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), said he has filed applications for notice of appeal and stay of execution of the judgment delivered by the lower court.
ODUDUWA NEWS has just gathered that the PDP MEGA RALLY earlier scheduled to take place at the Osogbo Stadium has been shifted to the Party’s Secretariat, Biket Junction Osogbo.
Waterfield Luxury Hotel Akobo, Ibadan
According to ODUDUWA NEWS Correspondent in Osogbo, some party stalwarts had already gathered at the Stadium before it was later learnt that the venue has been changed.
As at the time of filing this report, the Party’s Presidential candidate and his running mate, Atiku Abubakar and Gov Ifeanyi Okowa are currently leading party faithfuls to the new venue owing to the failure of APC-led government of Osun to release the Stadium for the rally.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by former Secretary to the Osun State Government, Moshood Adeoti, seeking to void the nomination of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Saturday’s governorship election.
Adeoti had claimed that Oyetola violated the provision of Article 31 (3) of the APC construction by allegedly not resigning his membership of the Caretaker/Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) 30 days before the party’s primary from which Oyetola emerged as the candidate of the APC.
In a judgment on Thursday, Justice Inyang Ekwo held among others, that the suit was an abuse of court process because it disclosed no cause of action.
Justice Ekwo noted that the subject matter of the suit fall outside the scope of Section 285(14) of the Constitution and Section 87(9) of Electoral Act and therefore the case did not qualify as pre-election matter. Justice Ekwo held that the suit falls within the internal affairs of the party on which the court could not intervene.
The judge also held that the suit was premature, because Adeoti failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanisms of the APC before approaching the court.
He further held that the creation of the CECPC was a decision of the APC as an ad-hoc measure and that, holding a position in it did not amount to occupying a party office for which officials are elected.
The judge added that Oyetola’s membership of the CECPC did qualify him as holding any office in the party, which is recognised by the APC’s constitution.
Justice Ekwo held that Adeoti ought to have challenged the setting up of the CECPC by the APC, and that having participated in the primary conducted by it, he could no longer turn around to challenge the outcome of the primary.
The petition brought by the state’s deputy governor, engineer Rauf Olaniyan, contesting the House of Assembly’s impeachment procedure to remove him from office, has been dismissed by Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court.
The judge stated that the claimant’s originating summons were not judicial in accordance with the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s constitution but rather only legislative procedure in his ruling on Thursday.
ODUDUWA NEWS reports that Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, would render a decision today Thursday in a dispute that is pending between the Oyo State House of Assembly and Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan.
Waterfield Luxury Hotel Akobo, Ibadan
The Deputy Governor, Mr. Rauf Olaniyan, had been accused of serious misconduct, and the Oyo State House of Assembly had last Wednesday instructed the State Chief Judge to appoint a panel of seven members to look into the matter.
According to a source who requested anonymity, the judgment that will be heard today, “Thursday,” was originally scheduled for July 26th.
The source continued by saying that the judgment had been brought up since the parties’ attorneys had been properly informed of the development.
It was learnt that the Oyo State Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly and the Clerk, Oyo state house of Assembly are the first, second and third defendants in the matter, respectively.
Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN, is representing Olaniyan (claimant) while Otunba Kunle Kalejaiye, SAN, is leading counsel.
The Lagos House of Assembly has denied a report that it secretly passed a Sharia Bill to get Northerners support for the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu.
The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, Mr Setonji David, made this known in a statement on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that an online media had reported that the assembly hurriedly passed a bill to set up Sharia courts, paving way for Sharia law in Lagos state which had been signed into law by the current state governor.
David, representing Badagry II, said the report was a mere figment of the imagination of the writer and a total lie from the pit of hell.
The spokesperson said no informed person should believe such lies against the assembly that was above the common standard of excellence, adding that the news was far from the reality.
He said: “The attention of the Lagos state house of assembly has been drawn to a malicious and unfounded report making the rounds on social media.
“That the assembly has secretly passed a sharia law in a deal to get Northern support for Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate.
“We will not have dignified the writer of this hate speech but in order to set the records straight, this is a mere figment of the imagination of the writer and a total lie from the pit of hell.
“No informed person should believe this lie against the assembly that is above the common standard of excellence. The news is far from reality.
“Some people are just mischievous. Spreading all sorts of untrue stuff. Is it possible to pass a law under cover?
“The process of law making is universal and very open. You cannot pass a law without subjecting it to public hearing in Lagos state.”
David urged residents of the state and Nigerians as a whole to take the peddlers of this unfounded report as uninformed, and uneducated people who needed to be schooled about the law making process.
He said Tinubu was a fast selling product across the country and does not need any law from the state to further endear him to all Nigerians.
The lawmaker said by the special grace of God, Tinubu would emerge winner of the 2023 presidential election to the shame of purveyors of the hate news.
Former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, has dismissed report that he has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Agbaje was earlier reported to have joined APC to support the party’s Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The report has been trending on Facebook and the instant messaging platform, WhatsApp, quoting him to have said he was dumping the opposition party to work for Tinubu.
He has however dismissed the report in response to a text message sent to him by our correspondent.
“No truth to the story,” Agbaje said in his reply.
He has followed up with a post on his verified Twitter handle @jimiagbaje, writing, “Eyin ko lokan (it is not your turn) o. Nigerians Lokan. Jimi Agbade – PDP.”
Emilokan (It’s my turn) is the slogan used by supporters of Tinubu after it was popularised by the APC Presidential Candidate in his famous speech in Ogun State prior to the conduct of the presidential primaries.
Pop star, David Adeleke popularly known as Davido arrives in Osun State to begin campaign for his uncle, Ademola Adeleke who is the People’s Democratic Party candidate for Saturday’s governorship election.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Oyo state chapter has confirmed the death of Honourable Ademola Olusegun Popoola describing his demise as very sad and tragic.
Until his death, Honourable Popoola represented Ibadan South East constituency II at the Oyo State House of Assembly.
The Oyo state chairman of PDP, Honourable Dayo Ogungbenro in a press release made available to newsmen by the party’s state Publicity Secretary, Akeem Olatunji, confirmed the sad development today July 13.
Waterfield Luxury Hotel Akobo, Ibadan
According to the ruling party in the state, Late Popoola died early hour of Wednesday morning at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
The party added that Late Popoola died at the age of 46 after long battle with kidney related ailments.
The party said plans were already in place to fly the deceased abroad for better medical attention before his death.
Expressing deep sadness over the death of the lawmaker, Oyo PDP said the entire party in the state has been thrown into mourning over Popoola’s death.
The party commiserates with the Executive Governor of Oyo state, Engr. Seyi Makinde, who is the leader of the party in the state and entire south western Nigeria.
While specially commending Governor Makinde for his personal efforts towards saving Late Popoola’s life, the party said Governor Makinde was fully committed to ensure he was readied to be flown abroad for better medical care but for the national holiday occasioned by the Salah break, Popoola’s medical trip was delayed.
The party also expressed its condolences to the Oyo State House of Assembly, the Speaker, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, and the House leadership of the tragic passing of their colleague and friend urging them to take solace in the ultimate will of God, the creator of all things.
The ruling party however, commiserates with the deceased wife and members of his family praying God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irredeemable loss and the dead an eternal rest.
Popoola was the Chairman of, the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and former Vice President of Nigeria Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his Vice President candidate Ifeanyi Okowa, will on Thursday lead members of the PDP, from across the country to Osogbo for a mega campaign rally.
The Osun State governorship election holds on Saturday, July 16.
The visit of the president candidate of PDP with other leaders of the party would enhance the support of the masses who believed in true governance which the PDP represents.
Atiku is expected to address a mammoth crowd of party faithful and the teeming supporters of PDP in Osun State.
Atiku will lead all the serving PDP governors across the country and members of the National Executive Council of the party to the campaign rally, while the former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki will also grace the event.
It was confirmed that Governor Okowa and other governors will meet PDP leaders and members loyal to Prince Dotun Babayemi at Senator Olu Alabi’s house in other to strengthening the unity of the party.
