Gov. Akeredolu loses appeal on suit challenging his election

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed a stay of proceedings
application by Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, in a case
brought by a governorship aspirant in the last election, Olusegun
Abraham, challenging his election.

Mr. Abraham is challenging the choice of Mr. Akeredolu as the
flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress in the November 26,
2016 governorship election.

Mr. Abraham, who came second in the primaries, which is the crux
of the case before the court, is seeking an order nullifying the
election of the Mr. Akeredolu.

According to him, the primaries which upheld the selection of
Mr. Akeredolu was fraught with irregularities as affirmed by an
investigative committee of the party, which also recommended a
repeat of the exercise.

Shortly after the primaries, Mr. Abraham sought an interim
injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral
Commission, from recognising Mr. Akeredolu as the governorship
candidate of APC in the Ondo election scheduled for November 26,
pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice
already filed in the suit.

In October last year, the Federal High Court in Abuja presided
by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, ruled that the application for interim
injunction sought by Mr. Abraham, the first runner-up in the
controversial Ondo governorship primaries of the APC, had
merit.

The court then ordered Mr. Akeredolu to appear before it on
October 28, 2016, but he appealed the ruling and also filed a stay
of proceedings.

The appeal court however ruled that the appeal and the
application for stay of proceeding lacked merit.

The court also ordered the governor to put up a defence as one
of the respondents to the suit, which is marked FHC/ABJ /
CS/788/2016 at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Mr. Abraham has hailed the ruling, saying it was a quit notice
to the governor and his supporters and an indication that democracy
was maturing in the country.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed a stay of proceedings
application by Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, in a case
brought by a governorship aspirant in the last election, Olusegun
Abraham, challenging his election.

Mr. Abraham is challenging the choice of Mr. Akeredolu as the
flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress in the November 26,
2016 governorship election.

Mr. Abraham, who came second in the primaries, which is the crux
of the case before the court, is seeking an order nullifying the
election of the Mr. Akeredolu.

According to him, the primaries which upheld the selection of
Mr. Akeredolu was fraught with irregularities as affirmed by an
investigative committee of the party, which also recommended a
repeat of the exercise.

Shortly after the primaries, Mr. Abraham sought an interim
injunction restraining the Independent National Electoral
Commission, from recognising Mr. Akeredolu as the governorship
candidate of APC in the Ondo election scheduled for November 26,
pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice
already filed in the suit.

In October last year, the Federal High Court in Abuja presided
by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, ruled that the application for interim
injunction sought by Mr. Abraham, the first runner-up in the
controversial Ondo governorship primaries of the APC, had
merit.

The court then ordered Mr. Akeredolu to appear before it on
October 28, 2016, but he appealed the ruling and also filed a stay
of proceedings.

The appeal court however ruled that the appeal and the
application for stay of proceeding lacked merit.

The court also ordered the governor to put up a defence as one
of the respondents to the suit, which is marked FHC/ABJ /
CS/788/2016 at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Mr. Abraham has hailed the ruling, saying it was a quit notice
to the governor and his supporters and an indication that democracy
was maturing in the country.