‘Judiciary must avert another Ajasin-Omoboriowo crisis’

To avert a repeat of the crisis between Adekunle Ajasin and Akin Omoboriowo that shook Ondo State in 1983, a group has cautioned the judiciary to avoid subverting the will of the people in the governorship election.

The group, the Coalition for Stable Democracy (CSD) made the appeal in Akure, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mr. Victor Aderibigbe and Secretary, Abdullahi Sanni.

They said unless the National Judicial Council (NJC) intervenes, there might be a repeat of the 1983 electoral violence in the state.

It expressed disappointment in last week’s ruling by a Federal Abuja High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Okon Abang, which voided the candidacy of Eyitayo Jegede.

The court had ruled that Jegede, who belongs to the Ahmed-Makarfi-led national caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), be substituted with Jimoh Ibrahim of the Ali Modu-Sheriff’s faction.

The group alleged that the ruling was part of an unfolding plot to stop Jegede from running, to allow the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rotimi Akeredolu to win the polls.

The statement read: “Let it be made clear that Ondo State is a peaceful state. But, if the people are taken for granted, there would be a repeat of the arson and destruction of property that followed the governorship election involving Adekunle Ajasin and Akin Omoboriowo in 1983.

“It has been alleged that there was miscarriage of justice in the court ruling. Curiously, Justice Abang had earlier withdrawn from the case when the state chapter of the party doubted his sincerity in handling the case.

“We view the ruling with suspicion, considering the accusation by the PDP’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Banji Okunomo, that the lawyer who took summons for the plaintiff, Mr. Olagoke Fakunle, had also appeared for the defendants.”

The statement said Ibrahim is not a member of the PDP in the state, having publicly renounced his membership by joining the Accord Party.