8th December, 2022
By Adejoke Adeleye, Abeokuta
A Federal High Court presided over by Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik sitting in Abeokuta on Thursday struck out another suit challenging the emergence of Senator Solomon Adeola as the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, for Ogun West Senatorial District in 2023 election.
The case instituted by Johnson Akinsanya Akindele and 2 Others as plaintiffs against Senator Adeola and three others as defendants was dismissed on the basis that the plaintiffs lack locus standi to institute the case.
The Judge added that the case was a pre – election matter and as such, was statute barred as it was filed outside the constitutionally prescribed 14 days.
The Judge also awarded cost of N4 million each in favour of the Independent National Electoral Commission and APC against the plaintiffs.
It will be recalled that Senator Solomon Adeola defeated the incumbent senator of the district, Senator Tolu Odebiyi by a total vote of 294 against 0 in the contested primary for the seat.
For Senator Adeola and his numerous supporters, the victory was yet another cause for jubilation galore as this is the second case he is winning after his landslide victory at the party primary.