An Akure High court on Tuesday sacked Bode Ayorinde as the Owo/Ose Federal constituency PDP candidate for next month’s general election to the House of Representatives.
The court also asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately replace the name of Ayorinde with Sadiq Obanoyen in the ballot for next month’s election.
The judge said the judgment was in pursuant of a motion brought before it by Sadiq Obanoyen seeking to upturn the decision of Ondo State PDP which excluded his name as the party’s flag bearer despite winning the primary election.
The judge said the excuse brought forward by the party which included the fact that Obanoyen never resigned his appointment as legislative assistant to the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has already been decided in a similar case which stated that in situations like this, it is the prerogative of the candidates’ principal to either relieve of his duties or allow him pursue his ambition, but since in this case, since his principal is not complaining, a third party has no right to come in and question the eligibility of his candidacy.
With this judgment therefore, Sadiq Obanoyen will now fly the PDP flag at the February election.
