Why INEC boycotted primary election conducted by Sheriff's faction

dimeji akinloye

August 29, 2016 5:54 PM

Billionaire Jimoh Ibrahim emerged winner of the primary which was held in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

Jimoh Ibrahim collects Ondo governorship form from factional PDP Chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today, Monday, August 29, boycotted the primary election held by the

Billionaire Jimoh Ibrahimemerged winnerof the primary which was held in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

The election held contrary to the judgment by an Ondo State High Court, sitting in Akure, which restrained the Sheriff faction from holding the parallel primary.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Mr Segun Agbaje, told Punch that the Commission did not send any official to monitor the election.

The newspaper also quoted another INEC source as saying: “We can not attend such a primary because we have no directive from our national secretariat.”

The court, presided over by Justice Omolara Adejumo had ruled that no faction of the PDP should conduct any primary outside the one that had been conducted by the Clement Faboyede-led State Congress.

“I have read motion paper and the affidavit of same, I have also considered the provision of the law relied upon in bringing the application. It is my view that the application has merit,” Justice Adejumo said.

ALSO READ: ‘PDP governors have begged Sheriff,’ Ex-lawmaker says

The judge also ordered Jimoh Ibrahim, Sola Ebiseni, Bamiduro Dada and Niran Sule not to parade themselves as the aspirants in the election.

dimeji akinloye