Lagos Lawmaker Battles INEC over Refusal to Re-instate Name

Ololade Adeyanju/

A Federal High Court in Lagos today ordered that all court processes in the suit filed by a Lagos lawmaker, Hon Hakeem Bello, challenging the candidacy of one Wale Rauf of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the upcoming state House of Assembly elections in Lagos should be served on all the defendants.

Thereafter, the presiding judge – Justice Ayotunde Faji adjourned till March 7, 2019, for definite hearing of the suit.    

Apart from Wale Rauf, others joined as co-respondents are Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and APC.

In an affidavit sworn to by Bello and filed before the court by a Lagos lawyer, Barrister Wahab Shittu, the lawmaker averred that Rauf contested the primaries in respect of Amuwo Odofin Constituency 2 Lagos State with him and others and lost the election to him.      

Following his victory at the primary elections, his name was published by APC as the candidate of the Party in respect of Amuwo Odofin Constituency 2 Lagos State.

Bello averred further that in spite of the result of the primary election which he won, Rauf’s name was wrongly forwarded to INEC as the candidate of APC.      

Upon his protest of this development and after consultations with the Lagos State Stakeholders of APC, Rauf in a letter dated November 30, 2018, addressed to the National Chairman of INEC voluntarily withdrew his candidacy.      

After Rauf ‘s withdrawal letter, he formally requested INEC to substitute the name of Wale Rauf with his own as the candidate of APC.      

However, following the  refusal of INEC to give effect to Wale Rauf ‘s letter, APC by a further letter dated December 3, 2018, signed by Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomole re-affirming his name and choice as the authentic candidate of APC within 45 days limited by the Electoral Act for the substitution as lawful candidates of APC should be done, but INEC wilfully refused to substitute the name of Wale Rauf with his name as the candidate of APC.  

Bello has urged the Court to order INEC to accept and treat him as the lawful candidate of APC for Amuwo Odofin Constituency 2, in Lagos, in the up-coming Lagos State House of Assembly Elections.

Bello also urged the Court to issue an order of injunction restraining Rauf from parading himself as the candidate of APC Amuwo Odofin Constituency 2, Lagos State in the up-coming House Assembly Elections.

The defendants have not filed a defense.