Court to hear Labour Party’s suit against INEC, Daniel on May 20

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday fixed May 20 for hearing of a suit filed by the Labour Party against a former Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and others.
The plaintiffs, Messers Olabode Simeon, Oginni Olaposi and Arabambi Abayomi, had filed the suit on behalf of the party’s State Executive Committee seeking some reliefs.
They are seeking a declaration of the court that they are the authentic LP leaders and officers.
Joined in the suit as defendants are the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, LP and its National Chairman, Dan Nwanyanwu.
Other defendants are the Independent National Electoral Commission; LP Deputy Chairman (South), Joseph Akinlaja; Gbenga Daniel; John Olaleye; Michael Adegbola; Ladi Adebutu; and Sarafa Tunji Ishola, a former Minister.
Also joined are Lekan Mustapha, Kayode Amusan, Isiaq Biodun Akinlade, Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka and Adeshina Kawonise.
The list also included Iyabode Apampa, Soji Akinbankole, Tunde Adsina, Waliu Taiwo, Remi Hassan, Adiyat Oladapo, Babatunde Osholake, Dave Salako, Adewale Adesegun, Oshunibi Adewale and Olumide Sina.
At the resumed hearing of the suit on Tuesday, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Ijeoma Esomu, told the court that she was served with various applications from the defendants, which she had yet to respond to.
Esomu, however, sought an adjournment to enable her to respond to the applications.
Counsel to the 13th respondent, Kayode Akinsola, asked the court to strike out the name of his client, Kayode Amusan, because he had since left the LP to the Peoples Democratic Party.
Counsel to eight and ninth defendants, Dr. Yemi Oke, informed the court that he filed an application challenging the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the suit.
Chukwma Ekemaru (SAN), counsel to fourth and fifth respondents, however, said that the issue of jurisdiction ought to be determined before any other application could be heard.
Consequently, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke said all pending applications would be taken the same day.
In their originating motion, the plaintiffs had told the court that their tenure ought to have lapsed in 2013 although the party’s National Executive Committee meeting held on November 20, 2013, unanimously resolved that the tenure of all occupants of executive offices at all levels should be extended.
The plaintiffs said that the status quo should be maintained pending the holding of state congress and national convention of the party to elect their successors.
They want the court to determine whether the committee could be removed from office without elections at a valid state congress or a convention held to overturn the NEC’s resolution.
The plaintiffs urged the court to hold that Akinlaja and Daniel had no powers to handpick and appoint anybody as LP officers in Ogun State contrary to the1999 Constitution and the party’s 2009 Constitution.
They are also asking the court to declare that INEC should not recognise such officers.
They sought an injunction restraining Daniel, Olaleye, Adegbola, Adebutu and Ishola from parading themselves as LP officers in Ogun State.
They are asking the court to stop the seventh to the last defendants from parading themselves as members until they have been registered in line with the party’s constitution.
The plaintiffs prayed for an order directing the police and the SSS to provide them with adequate security as the authentic officers.