By Mumini AbdulKareem
There is anxiety in the air as the court will tomorrow (Friday) decide on who is the Kwara South Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Senator Rafiu Ibrahim.
The Kwara State chapter of the PDP recently claimed it has secured a court order that will compel the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to replace its senatorial candidate in the February 28 National Assembly elections.
INEC had in a statement released last weekend rejected the position of the Kwara State chapter of the PDP that it has replaced the candidacy of Governor Ahmed for Senator Ibrahim in the Kwara South Senatorial race.
The action of the Commission caused huge concerns back home in the state with many of the party members expressing worry over the development.
It was gathered that while the leadership of the PDP has continued to express confidence that the matter will be decided in its favour, many party members are looking forward to the case tomorrow with huge apprehension.
Last week, Governor Ahmed who joined the campaign train of the sitting senator, Rafiu Ibrahim, in Kwara South insisted that he was no longer in the race and has since announced his decision and communicated that in writing to the Commission.
Although the party said it relied on the provision of section 35 of the Electoral Act which stipulates that political party can replace candidate with 45 days to the election, INEC insisted that November 17 was the last day for the substitution of candidate for the election.
It said only death can warrant the commission to agree to the replacement of any candidate already submitted by political party at this stage.
Speaking with our reporter in a telephone chat, yesterday, the Kwara State PDP Chairman, Engr. Kola Shittu confirmed that the party has obtained a court order on the issue adding that the court will seat Friday (tomorrow) on the issue.
According to Shittu, Sen. Ibrahim remains the candidate of the PDP for the Kwara South Senatorial seat adding that there is no cause for alarm.
โRafiu (Ibrahim) remains our candidate for the senatorial election and that is our position and itโs sacrosanct. We have obtained a court order to that effect and the court will sit to decide the matter on Friday.
โW
