Kwara PDP Chairmanship Tussle: Fagbemi defies nat’l leadership, drags Oyedepo to court
By Mumini AbdulKareem
The last may not have been heard of the leadership crisis rocking the Kwara State chapter of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the decision of Prince Sunday Fagbemi to drag the Iyiola Oyedepo-led executives to court over the outcome of the chairmanship contest.
Chief Moses Ibiyemi, Alhaji Lateef Adebayo Oloyin, Mr John Ashonibare and Mr. Hakeem Ajape Issa serve as the plaintiffs while the PDP, Oyedepo, Abdullateef Alakawa Gidado, Alhaja Fatmoh Gegele Magaji, Mahmud Haliru Dantsoho and Hon Gabriel Olatunji as defendants.
The National leadership of the party at the national convention that produced Prince Uche Secondus in Abuja had affirmed Oyedepo as the authentic chairman of the party despite Fagbemi’s protest.
But in a text message, last night, Oyedepo described the issue as a “good and welcome development”.
The date for the hearing was not established before this paper went to bed.
It was gathered that Oyedepo had since received the certificate of return from the national leadership of PDP, warning aggrieved members to explore internal mechanism rather than going to court to resolve their grievances.
In the originating writ of summon instituted at the Federal High Court, Ilorin which was exclusively obtained, last night, by this medium, Fagbemi said the state congress of the party held on 13th November, 2017 was null and void and not conducted in accordance with provisions of the PDP guidelines.
He also alleged failure to conduct the said state congress with list of delegates approved for same by the National Caretaker Committee of the party.
He sought for PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the 2nd defendants from parading themselves or acting as the executive.
He therefore asked the court to determine; 1. Whether the State Congress Planning/Electoral Committee had the right to add, subtract or substitute the approved list of delegates given to it by the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the purpose of conducting congress of Kwara State Chapter of the said Party.
- Whether the act of the State Congress Planning/Electoral Committee of amending the approved delegate list given to the said Committee by the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party in respect of Kwara State Congress held on the 13th day of November, 2017 is not ultra vire the power conferred on the State Congress Planning/Electoral Committee.
- Whether Report of the State Congress Appeal Panel dated 17th November, 2017 in respect of the Kwara State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the State Congress election held on the 13th day of November, 2017 has not invalidated results of the Congress held on the said date.
- Whether by virtue of Guidelines for the conduct of the State Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the decision/report of the State Congress Appeal Panel is not final on the State Congress.
- Whether there was not over voting in respect of the State Congress of the Kwara State Chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Congress conducted on the 13th November, 2017 whereby declared results into some of the offices contested for were higher than number of delegates accredited for the Congress, among others.
He therefore urged the court to declare “that the State Congress Planning/Electoral Committee did not adhere strictly to the Delegate List as approved by the National Executive Committee for the Kwara State Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held on 13th day of November , 2017.
- “that the list of delegates used by the State Congress Planning/Electoral Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in respect of the Kwara State Congress held in Ilorin on the 13th day of November, 2017 is not in compliance with the approved list of delegates by the National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)….
He further sought an ORDER declaring that the Kwara State Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held on the 13th day of November, 2017 is null and void and “that another State Congress be organised for all the posts of executive Committee of the Kwara State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and “for appointment of a new Caretaker Committee for the Kwara State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) pending the time a new State Congress will be held.
