In a statement disclosed to the media yesterday in Osogbo, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, accused the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC), Prof. Atahiru Jega, of insincerity for retaining the Resident Electoral Commissioner of Osun state, Mr. Rufus Akeju, despite a court order allegedly restraining him from doing so.
The statement read, “Prof. Jega is not honest about the issue of the resident electoral officer in Osun as a Federal High Court has restrained INEC from using Mr. Akeju. It baffles the PDP what Akeju is still doing in Osun State.
“Only yesterday, the All Progressives Congress inaugurated one of its offices beside INEC office along Ilobu Road. How can a political office be situated beside an INEC office. Is this right?
“We want Jega to tell us if what is happening in Osun is right because he who comes to equity must come with clean hands.
Reacting to the allegation, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Mr. Kayode Idowu, said: “True, in a ruling on 23rd March, 2011 by the Federal High Court in Osogbo, Hon. Justice Babs Kuewumi gave an interlocutory order of injunction restraining INEC from recognising the REC, pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons in the suit.
“But the commission’s lawyers lodged an appeal and filed a motion for stay of execution of the interlocutory order. This appeal is still pending before the Court of Appeal in Akure.
“Meanwhile, Hon. Justice Babs Kuewumi, in another ruling on 31st May, 2012, granted the application for stay of proceedings pending the determination of the appeal made by the Plaintiff – the Peoples Democratic Party.
“The position of the law as at today is that the order of injunction granted by the lower court is in abeyance pending the final determination of the appeal.”
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