Ondo PDP Primary: Court Dismisses Suit Seeking Deputy Governor’s Disqualification

An Akure High Court has dismissed an ex parte application seeking to stop Ondo State Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi from participating in the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary.

Justice Bode Adegbehingbe rejected the application and directed the claimant to serve the necessary parties rather than seek an order without hearing from them.

The suit was filed by a PDP member, Olopele Timi, through his counsel, Akpofiweii Anthony.

Timi sought Ajayi’s disqualification from the primary over allegations relating to his academic certificate.

He also alleged that the deputy governor had violated provisions of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and asked the court to bar him from holding public office for up to 10 years.

The claimant further based his case on alleged violations of regulations connected with the West African Examinations Council Act.

The court, however, declined to grant the ex parte application.

Justice Adegbehingbe subsequently fixed July 30, 2020, for the hearing of the substantive suit.

The ruling meant that, at that stage, there was no court order preventing Ajayi from taking part in the PDP governorship primary.