Absence of counsel stalls suit on Ekiti poll, constitution

• ADC candidate pledges non-interfere in council affairs
• Forming national unity govt too vague, unrealistic, says Farounbi

Absence of the defence counsel yesterday, stalled hearing of a suit at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti, challenging the validity of the 1999 Constitution and the conduct of Ekiti State governorship election, as well as the 2023 general elections.

The plaintiff, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, the leading umbrella of those championing Yoruba self-determination, led by a renowned Historian and Second Republic member of the Senate, Prof. Banji Akintoye and others, were represented by a former National President of Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Olasupo Ojo and an Abuja-based constitutional lawyer and political activist, Tolu Babaleye and three others.

The defendants in the suit, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, were however, absent, and neither did they send legal representatives.

The trial judge, Babs Olaniyi Kuewumi, adjourned the case to May 11, 2022 to enable the defence team file their response.

MEANWHILE, the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the Ekiti State governorship poll, Dr. Wole Oluyede, has pledged not to interfere in local council administration.

Oluyede said that as governor, he would lead the agricultural revolution of the state by being an active mechanised farmer and diversify its economy from a mere civil service state.

He stated this in Ikere-Ekiti, yesterday, during an interactive session with journalists on his programmes for the state.

IN another development, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Yemi Faroubi, yesterday, said the call for government of national unity by Afenifere is too vague and unrealistic.

In a statement made available to The Guardian in Ibadan, Farounbi said the call begged for a lot of questions.

He said if the government of national unity is in place of the elections, then Afenifere is saying the same thing as Afe Babalola.