••• As Jimi Lawal Withdraws Suit Against INEC
| The Daily Crucible | Thursday, November 3, 2022
By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, took a messier dimension as the party expelled its former governorship aspirant, Hon. Ladi Adebutu and four others from the party for alleged involvement in the manipulation of the delegates' list.
The Party said the alleged manipulated delegates list was used in conducting the May 25, 2022 governorship primary election of the party in defiance of court order.
Earlier, the party had on October 25, 2022, suspended Adebutu and four others - Taiwo Akinlabi, Sunday Solarin, Kayode Adebayo and Akinloye Bankole, for alleged violation of agreed terms of settlement of the challenges dogging the state PDP.
However, the PDP in Ogun State took a step further on Thursday to finally expel Adebutu and four others after the Working Committee of the party, reviewed the report of a 5-man disciplinary panel set up to look into the allegations of anti-party, indiscipline, division and acts capable of bringing the party into disrepute.
The chairman of the disciplinary committee, Hon. Akintunde Mufutau said in a statement, "After a thorough review of the allegation levelled against them, the panel found Adebutu and others guilty. Subsequently, they have been recommended for expulsion and same has been communicated to the necessary organs of the party for ratification."
Meanwhile, the governorship hopeful of PDP in Ogun state, Otunba Jimi Lawal has withdrawn a suit he filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking leave for an order of mandamus to compel the commission to give effect to the court-ordered governorship primary election held on the 17th of October, 2022.
When the matter came up this Thursday before the Hon. Justice Joyce Abdulamalik of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, it was discovered that Hon. Ladi Adebutu, who refused to participate in the court-ordered primary election, had filed a motion to join the suit.
His counsel contended abuse of court process and informed the court that there is a pending appeal that has been slated for hearing on the 14th of November, 2022.
The court advised counsel on both sides to do the needful or else she knows what ruling to give.
Consequently, counsel to the Applicants of Dr. Kemi Peinhero (SAN) & co., applied to withdraw the application for leave an order of mandamus.
The court granted the request to withdraw the suit and struck out the matter. In doing so, the court said the right of the applicants to return after the determination of the appeal is preserved
It also refused to hear Ladi Adebutu's application to join the suit, describing it as "premature and unwarranted".
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