Over the last few weeks, Hon. Adebiyi Adeleye has been in a happy mood. This is because he got his mandate back.
Recall that in October 2022, a Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital had removed the candidate of the APC in Remo North House of Assembly, Hon. Biyi Adeleye and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to forward the name of the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Osho Solomon, as the winner of the APC primaries in Remo North State constituency.
Also recall that Hon Adeleye defeated Solomon Osho, the incumbent House of Assembly member to win the primaries.
Hon. Adeleye polled thirty-Seven (37) votes to beat the closest Aspirant Osho who had Twelve (12 ) votes and Captain Opanuga, who secured Zero (0) vote.
Aggrieved by the outcome of the election, Solomon Osho instituted a suit challenging Adeleye’s victory.
The Appeal Court, sitting in Ibadan, on Monday 5th December 2022, affirmed the All Progressives Congress Candidate for the House of Assembly, Remo North State Constituency, Hon. Adebiyi Adeleye as the validly nominated and authentic candidate of the party in the forthcoming general elections.
Delivering judgment in the appeal marked CA/IB/436/2022; Mr. Adebiyi Adeleye Vs. Hon. Solomon Oluwaseyi Osho & 3 Ors, the Panel comprising Justices Adumein, Nimpar, and Ojo resolved all the issues in the appeal in favour of APC and Hon Adebiyi Adeleye.
Solomon Osho challenged the candidacy of Hon. Adeleye that he did not obtain the mandatory Expression of interest Form and do not participate in the Screening Exercise before his participation in the party primary election. Hon. Justice Moore Adumein ruled that Hon Adeleye did satisfy the provisions of the law, having considered the pieces of evidence tendered by the Respondent.
The court therefore in its wisdom set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court and pronounced the Plaintiffs claim as vague, inconsistent, lacking in merit, and dismissed.
While urging members to “leave no stone unturned in ensuring overwhelming victory for all APC candidates in our agenda to continue to build our future together”, Hon Adeleye thanked the governor of Ogun State H.E Prince Dapo Abiodun MFR, whom he described as a Passionate and Reliable Leader who has provided purposeful and progressive leadership in governance and party politics. He also thanked the party executives, both at the State and Local government, and as well as party members, for their unalloyed support and firm belief in his candidature.
“It’s a victory for democracy, and everybody, including the Plaintiff. This of course will further deepen and enhance our democratic ideals and reaffirm our belief in the court as the true Temple of Justice”.
“I call on my brother, Solomon Osho, as well as all other stakeholders to join us in this process to move Ogun State and most affectedly Remo North to their lofty Height. It’s no victor, no vanquish, “he added.
A few days ago, we asked Hon. Biyi Adeleye how he feels now that the court has given him back his mandate. “I feel happy. I feel excited. Thanks very much, sir.
Well, how did I feel?
It was a mixed response.
One was feeling blessed to have been vindicated by the court.”
The second was asking myself if it should’ve degenerated into a court case, considering the fact that we are from the same party, same ward and the fact is that I brought this guy into politics in my LG and Ogun as a whole. I felt betrayed by his action.”
For the benefit of those who don’t know what he went through, we got him to tell us his experience in the battle to regain his mandate.
“It was excruciating egbon. The fact that some people that should know better were just deliberately using this young guy to get at me politically.”
What are the lessons his experience at the court taught him?
The first is to be Godly. Believe in your people. Do good at all times and pay less attention to low lifers
Now, that he has won, what next.?? How is the campaign going? What is his message to his constituents?
“The litigation I must say really slowed us down a little. Even at that, the opposition could not match us. Right after the judgement, everyone in my constituency has been happy for us and we have since started our campaign, from house to house.
The reception by the good people of my constituency has been so unprecedented. That is a clear sign of what was expected from the law court.”
