The lawmaker representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has urged the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to uphold the Rule of Law, asserting that the position of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which declared him as PDP governorship candidate in the state was in line with several judgments and orders of court of competent jurisdiction.
It would be recalled that INEC’s National Commissioner for Information, Media and Voter Education, Mr Festus Okoye, said on Wednesday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital that commission published Buruji’s name and those of others in compliance with a subsisting court judgment.
“Our position is that INEC received judgments of properly constituted courts of law and we have given effects to the judgments we have,” INEC chief said.
Kashamu said this while addressing newsmen in Lagos on Friday, insisting that he remained the governorship candidate of the party and was sure of winning the forthcoming poll with support of members and people of Ogun, even as he promised to ensure that local governments in the state receive their federal allocations directly to ensure even development in Ogun.
“The people who are voting are not fools, I am a fighter, I believe in justice, am ready to put my blood to justice. I can say, all members of NWC are created by God, I am not afraid of anybody.
“The good people of Ogun State are wiser, well educated, they do not believe in illegality, they do not believe in injustice, they know how to vote the right people,” he said.
The governorship candidate, who spoke in reaction to a statement credited to the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbodiyan that the PDP would continue to recognise Oladipupo Adebutu as the candidate of the party, said the party was committing illegality and impunity by promoting its continued support for Adebutu.
Ologbondiyan had on Thursday in Abuja told newsmen that Adebutu remained the candidate of the party despite the court pronouncements and INEC’s compliance.
But Kashamu said contrary to the impression being created, the Federal High Court, Lagos had since the 24th of June, 2016 delivered a judgment authenticating the Engr. Adebayo Dayo-led Ogun State PDP Exco and pronounced it as the only lawful body to conduct the activities of the PDP in the state, including the conduct of party primaries.
According to him, up till date, that judgment delivered by the Honourable Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Federal High Court was yet to be upturned on appeal, saying that it was based on that the FCT High Court, Abuja, on the 14th of January, 2019 dismissed a suit filed by Adebutu, in which he wanted the court to declare him as the governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun State.
Recall that Kashamu and a member of the House of Representatives, Hon Adebutu, had been locked in litigation battle over the party’s ticket as they both emerged from two parallel congresses.
While Kashamu emerged from the congress conducted by the Engr. Bayo Dayo-led Exco, Adebutu emerged from the NWC-backed Sikirulai Ogundele group.
On the Appeal Court judgment that Ologbondiyan referred to, Kashamu said: “The Court of Appeal at page 12 of the judgment held; ‘The action instituted at the Lower Court is also not in respect of selection or nomination of candidates to represent the 1st Appellant at an election nor is it a complaint against any election, decision or activity of the INEC (10th Respondent). It is in my view, simply an inter-party dispute between two factions of the party as to which of the factions is the legitimate State Executive of the P.D.P in Ogun State. This appeal is therefore not in respect of a pre-election matter.
“The findings and decision of the Court of Appeal in the Judgment of 18th December 2018, clearly shows that the subject of the said appeal was neither related to pre-election issues nor the nomination of candidates to represent the Ogun State PDP at the election.
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“Therefore, since the said appeal and judgment do not relate to the list of candidates that would represent the Ogun State PDP at the February 16 and March 2, 2019 elections, the Court of Appeal could not have sacked or pronounced on the list of candidates from Ogun State. What is more, as can be clearly seen on the face of the appeal, Ladi Adebutu was not a party to the appeal. So, how can he claim to be a beneficiary of the judgment?”
Kashamu contended that the PDP by its conduct and pronouncements was sending the wrong signals to the electorate as a lawless organization that had no respect for the judiciary.
“What the NWC is doing is sending bad signals. It is clear impunity. There have been several judgments and the judgments are yet to be set aside. So, on what basis are you claiming Adebutu is the candidate? he queried.
“They talk of guidelines. Is guidelines superior to the constitution on which the court gave a judgment in our favour? he further queried, saying that it would appear that some people were after their pecuniary interests and, therefore, the reason they were twisting everything.
“I urge our people in Ogun State not to be distracted by all that they are saying. They should stay with the law and the truth. By God’s grace, we will win in the election,” Kashamu said.
Speaking further, the PDP governorship candidate described himself as a core PDP member, assuring that he would use the platform to serve the people diligently, even as he expressed the belief that the disagreements in the party, as well as the issues surrounding the governorship ticket, would be resolved amicably or finally determined through legal means.
He said he would support PDP and work for the interests whatever happens at the end of the day.
“The Ogun State PDP matter is ordinarily an easy issue to resolve if the National leadership were to be upright, law-abiding and unbiased.
“Thus, one cannot query the ambition of Honourable Ladi Adebutu to be governor but certainly not at the detriment of the state exco that provided him with the platform to be at the House of Representatives.
“As commendably done by INEC, I passionately appeal to our PDP NWC leaders to toe the path of honour and civility in subordinating their interests to the rule of law. It is noble to correct known mistakes than to, in foolhardiness, continue on an ignominious act,” he said.
Also speaking at the parley, the PDP governorship running mate in Ogun State, Dr Reuben Abati, said Senator Kashamu was in the race to win the election, adding that anyone acting or promoting any other candidate or list in Ogun PDP was only doing so in contempt of the ruling of the court.
Abati also highlighted plans of the PDP for Ogun State, stating that it won’t be business as usual in the Gateway State, adding that Senator Kashamu would uplift the plight of the masses, especially those at the grassroots.
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