The Ondo State chapter of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has distanced itself from a lawsuit filed by its governorship candidate, Olugbenga Edema, challenging the candidacy of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
At the Federal High Court in Akure, Ondo State, on Wednesday, a letter from the National Legal Adviser of NNPP, Robert Hon, was presented. The letter clarified that the party had not authorized any legal action against the APC candidates and requested that its name be withdrawn from the suit.
In the lawsuit, Edema had asked the court to direct the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to retract the nomination and publication of Aiyedatiwa and Adelami as APC candidates. The suit sought the court’s interpretation of Section 15 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) concerning the nomination of the APC candidates.
However, the legal teams representing Aiyedatiwa, Adelami, INEC, and the APC argued for the dismissal of the suit on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction and the plaintiffs’ lack of standing to file the case. The defense counsel included Dr. Remi Olatubora SAN, Kola Olawoye SAN, and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN for Governor Aiyedatiwa; Chief Charles Edosomwan SAN for INEC; and Adelanke Akinrata, among others.
Adegboruwa, representing Aiyedatiwa, informed the court about the NNPP’s letter disavowing the suit. The letter, dated December 10, 2024, and addressed to Akinrata, requested that the court remove the NNPP’s name from the suit. It stated that the party had not instructed Edema or anyone else to sue the defendants on its behalf.
In light of this development, Adegboruwa asked the plaintiff’s counsel to withdraw the case, requesting that the court strike it out. Olatubora added that the submission of the letter by the party’s State Chairman, Peter Olagookun, further confirmed the party’s position.
Edema’s legal representative, Abayomi Ojo, responded by stating that Edema was unaware of the letter and needed time to review its contents. He requested an adjournment to adequately respond to the issue.
The presiding judge, Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke, confirmed that the court had five months to hear the case, which was filed in November 2024. The judge then adjourned the matter until February 3, 2025, for further hearing.
