New PDP condemns replacement of Oyinlola

The Abubakar Baraje-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) splinter group Saturday faulted the judgement of an Abuja Federal High Court which on Friday, replaced former PDP national secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola with Professor Wale Oladipo.

In a statement signed by its national publicity secretary, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, which described the judgement as a miscarriage of justice, the group claimed that Oyinlola was never served any notice of the court process before the judgement was delivered.

The judgement, which was delivered by Justice
Abdul Kafarati last Friday had equally ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to begin to recognise Wale as the PDP national secretary.

The court also said that the congress that produced Mr. Oladipo was properly conducted.

The ruling was the outcome of a motion filed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Ogun State Chapter of PDP, Adebayo Dayo and Semiu Sodipo respectively.

The INEC, PDP, and Mr. Oyinlola were joined as defendants.

Mr. Oladipo, a professor from Osun State, was nominated as the national secretary on July 13, following the sack of Mr. Oyinlola on January 11 by the same court, which also ordered a fresh congress to pick another secretary for the party.

However, before his nomination at the extra-ordinary South West Congress of the PDP in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the party had on June 20, appointed Remi Akintoye, as acting national secretary.

Mr. Oyinlola is still in court appealing the judgement sacking him, though he was named and has been acting as the national secretary of the Abubakar Baraje-led PDP splinter group since August 31.

But the New PDP said in its press statement yesterday:

'The Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje-led PDP wishes to condemn this obvious and glaring miscarriage of justice as the judgment was given in spite of the pendency of Prince Oyinlola's suit over the subject matter at a superior court of competent jurisdiction - the Federal Court of Appeal Abuja.

We wish to inform Nigerians that Prince Oyinlola was never served any court processes before the judgment was delivered.'

It continued: 'The judgment, unfortunately, dishonours the Court of Appeal and His Lordship's pronouncement on the subject matter negates procedures outlined in the Constitution of the PDP for the emergence of the party's National Secretary.

We see the Judiciary as the last hope of the common man and a defender of the weak against the strong. We therefore wish to appeal to the Judiciary not to indulge itself in anything that may tend to give the contrary impression.

'We, meanwhile, appeal to our supporters and to all PDP members to remain calm as arrangements are being made to appeal this judgment and ensure that justice is done in this matter.'