By Wisdom Deji-Folutile
The Ekiti State High Court of justice has ordered the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to ‘maintain status quo’ following a motion filed by suspended party members in the state.
The order was given after a hearing before Honourable Justice E.B Omotosho at the courthouse in Ado-Ekiti on February 2.
Recall that the PDP had on January 20 approved the suspension of the Ekiti State Executive Committee, alongside several party members in the state.
Following the party’s announcement, five suspended members—Ajijola Lateef Oladimeji, (Ekiti Central); Emiola Adenike Jennifer (Ekiti South II); Olayinka James Olalere, (Ekiti Central); Akerele Oluyinka (Ekiti North I); and Fayose Oluwajomiloju John (Ekiti Central I)— had on January 27 filed a motion against the PDP, party national chairman Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
All five members had prior to their suspension been submitted as candidates for the National Assembly elections holding February 25, 2023.
The applicants had prayed the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the PDP and party chairman Ayu from substituting the candidates for the upcoming national and state assembly elections.
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The motion read, “Upon the application filed on the 2nd February 2023, the claimants/applicants pray for the following: An order of interim injunction of this honourable court restraining the 1st and 2nd Defendants from substituting or changing the name of the claimants whose name have already been submitted to the 3″ Defendants as the is Defendants candidates for her National and State Assembly elections when the claimants have not withdrawn their candidature having regard to the provisions of Sections 3 of the Electoral Act 2022, as well as the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP as amended 2017 and its Guidelines pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction before the Honourable Court.”
The claimants also prayed the court for an order of interim injunction restraining INEC from accepting or acting on any application from the PDP attempting to substitute the names of the candidates without a withdrawal of candidature by the suspended members.
The court, having listened to the applicant’s counsel, ordered that copies of the motion of notice filed by the claimants be served on the defendants.
“Upon the service of the aforesaid processes on the defendants, the parties, in this case, are hereby ordered to maintain status quo pending the hearing of the aforesaid Motion on notice,” the order read.
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