By Baron Ike
Thunderous excitement greeted the camp of Eyitayo Jegede, one of the persons contending for the governorship election flag of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, as Justice Ibrahim Saulawa panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Wednesday set aside Justice Okon Abang`s earlier ruling which replaced Jegede with Jimoh Ibrahim for the forthcoming election.
With Jegede cleared, hope rises for the PDP in the poll because of his popularity rating and the electorate’s sympathy for him over the manner he was supplanted by the Ali Modu-Sherriff-led PDP camp which threw up Ibrahim, a candidate that is hardly loved by his people.
Justice Saulawa ruled that former Ondo State Attorney -General, “Eyitayo Jegede should replace Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim as the PDP governorship candidate.”
The Court of Appeal’s pronouncement instantly brought to live activities in Akure, the capital of Ondo just as it looked like cold water was poured on the supporters of Ibrahim who has been going about telling the electorate that the court will not invalidate his choice.
The Court of Appeal had fixed the ruling for Wednesday, November 23 after receiving the order of the Supreme Court a day earlier directing it to go ahead with the determination of the rights of parties to the numerous appeals emanating from PDP disputes in Ondo.
Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Samuel Walter Onnoghen had on Tuesday, November 22 berated lawyers handling the cases filed by Ibrahim’s loyalists for blackmailing Appeal Court justices.
Based on Justice Abang’s earlier order, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) removed Jegede’s name and replaced it with Ibrahim’s.
The PDP among other parties had earlier called for the postponement of the poll, apparently because of the court cases militating against the chances of Jegede flying the party’s flag come November 26 election day.
Reactions have been trailing the Appeal Court pronouncement with the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu applauding the ruling. He said it is good tonic for ultimate victory.
Ekweremadu, who described the decision as “just, courageous, and expeditious”, commended the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal for their promptness in handling the matter, noting that democracy could only thrive where there is respect for the rule of law.
He added: “The freeness, fairness, and credibility of an election, go beyond what happens on an election day. The process, especially the right of the party faithful to choose a flag bearer of their own freewill unhindered by subterfuge, manipulation, intimidation, and abuse of any form, are equally as important and indeed foundational to the soundness of the election itself.
“I am, therefore, happy that the Court of Appeal has spoken loudly, and in a speedy and just manner that raises hope for the nation’s democracy. This judicial victory is good tonic that will unite the PDP family the more and spur us to a more resounding victory in the Ondo governorship race”.
He called on the people of Ondo State to vote massively for the PDP, according to a statement on Wednesday by his media adviser, Uche Anichukwu.
Regardless, there are those who think that clearing Jegede, the anointed candidate of Olusegun Mimiko, the Iroko of Ondo politics, to replace Ibrahim, may have done a deadly injury to the ambition of Araba.
“Now the ground is set for the rancorous election that will put the deep culture of Ondo people in grassroots politics to acidic test. This eleventh hour judgement may be all Olusola Oke needs to become the next governor of the cocoa, timber and oil rich state,” said Kola Bola on his Facebook wall.