Ololade Adeyanju/
An Osun State High Court in Osogbo, today ruled that the winner of the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship primary in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, must present his secondary school certificate before it by August 1.
Two members of the PDP in the state, Rasheed Olabayo and Oluwaseun Idowu, had approached the court claiming that Adeleke did not possess the certificate as required by Section 177 (d) of the 1999 constitution to be eligible to contest a governorship election.
The duo consequently asked the court to set aside the July 21, 2018 primary election which produced him as the governorship candidate of the PDP in the state.
The court, while ruling on the ex-parte application filed by the duo, explained that granting the leave to restrain the PDP from presenting Adeleke as its governorship candidate over his inability to present his certificate may subject the court to mockery if the Senator thereafter presents the certificate.
Justice David Oladimeji noted: “It will be inequitable not to allow the respondent to come and show his certificate if he has any, but if given the opportunity to present his side of the case, the balance which is necessary for interlocutory injunction would be adequately considered.”
Justice Oladimeji explained further that the ex-parte injunction has only seven days lifespan and that there are still windows left open till August 8 according to the affidavits sworn to by the applicants.
The presiding judge added that “being an election matter, it is my conviction that the public will not be uninterested in the proceedings of this court”, explaining that the importance of the matter would make the court not to grant the injunction.
He warned that “once a matter is before a court any party cannot take a further step without the express permission of the court”.
Justice Oladimeji thereafter adjourned the motion on notice till Wednesday, August 1 for definite hearing, while adding that no form of excuse from the litigants would be tolerated by the court.
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