PDP Chieftain Wants Court To Bar Agbaje From Contesting Lagos' Governorship Primary

PDP Chieftain Wants Court To Bar Agbaje From Contesting Lagos' Governorship Primary

A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Lagos, Nurudeen Balogun has urged a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja to stop one of the gubernatorial aspirant of the party, Jimi Agbaje from contesting the forthcoming Governorship primary of the party fixed for December 8.

Balogun, who claimed to be interested in becoming the governorship candidate of the party, is insisting that Agbaje is not eligible and qualified to run for any elective position in the forthcoming primaries having only joined the party in July 2015.

Apart from Agbaje, also joined in the suit are the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Balogun, in an affidavit attached to the suit and filed on his behalf by his counsel, Clement Onwuenwunor, claimed that in accordance with Section 50(9) of the PDP’s Constitution, only aspirants with minimum of two years membership span are eligible to stand for election into any public office under it platform .    

The politician also averred that as at today, the "26th day of November, 2014" the 1st Defendant (Agbaje) is barely 4 months old as a legitimate card carrying member of the 2nd Defendant (PDP).

Balogun also maintained that the 1st Defendant who has never paid his registration dues and regular annual subscription fees for renewal of his membership is not eligible to contest elective position to a public office on the platform of the 2nd    Defendant.

He further claimed that, "I am aware that the 1st Defendant has not been given any waiver by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the 2nd Defendant as stipulated by the 2nd Defendant’s Constitution to contest for elective position to the office of the Governor of Lagos State under the platform of the 2nd Defendant.

"That on 21st November, 2014 I petitioned the Chairman, of the South-West Governorship Screening Committee of the 2nd Defendant of this unwholesome practice and blatant infraction of the 2nd Defendant’s Constitution by the 1st Defendant and his cohorts in the 2nd Defendant’s Political Party.

"Notwithstanding the said petition, the 2nd Defendant did not respond, reply or take necessary appropriate action on the said petition and that it is sequel to the above averment that this suit became necessary to forestall radical violence to the 2nd defendant's Constitution by the 1st Defendant," Balogun averred.  

He therefore praying the court for an Injunction restraining the 1st Defendant from parading himself as candidate for election or presenting himself to any organ of the 2nd Defendant, especially the Screening Committee, for the purpose of being screened for the primary election for 2015 Governorship election in Lagos State having only joined the 2nd Defendant in July 2015 and his membership not regularized.

He also wants the court to grant him an Injunction restraining the 2nd and 3rd Defendants (INEC), their agents, servants and or privies from accepting Expression of Interest/Nomination Forms from the 1st Defendant or screening him to participate in the primary election for 2015 Governorship election in Lagos State having only joined the 2nd Defendant in July 2014 and his membership not regularized.

The politician is equally wants the court to declare that it is only a duly registered member of the 2nd  Defendant or one whose membership is regularized, can present himself and pick Expression of Interest/Nomination Forms for the purpose of the primary election for 2015 Governorship election in Lagos State.

Balogun is further playing the court for a declaration that the 2nd  and 3rd  Defendants are not entitled to accept Expression of Interest/Nomination Forms from the 1st  Defendant for the purpose of participating in the primary.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit as it is yet to be assigned to a judge