Ondo Guber: Court to Rule on Eligibility of Deputy Governor-elect, Adelami

Ondo Guber: Court to Rule on Eligibility of Deputy Governor-elect, Adelami

By Fly Cable News

A Federal High Court in Akure has reserved judgment in a case challenging the eligibility of Dr. Olaiyide Adelami, the Deputy Governor-elect of Ondo State and running mate to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in the November 16 governorship election.

The case, filed by Hon. Agboola Ajayi, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, questions Adelami’s qualifications based on allegations of conflicting names. Six Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) represented the parties involved, with Ajayi seeking Adelami’s disqualification and that of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the election.

Ajayi’s lawyer, M. Ndoka SAN, argued that Adelami’s multiple names – “Adelami Owolabi Jackson” and “Olaide Owolabi Adelami” – rendered him unfit to contest. He requested the court to disqualify both Adelami and Aiyedatiwa from the election and prevent the publication of their names by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, Adelami’s legal team, led by Dr. Remi Olatubora SAN, countered that discrepancies in Adelami’s name were not significant and were explained by official documents, including his WAEC result and degree certificate. They also argued that the plaintiffs lacked the standing to file the suit, as they were not members of APC and did not partake in the primaries.

Justice Toyin Adegoke, the presiding judge, stated that the date for delivering the judgment would be communicated to the parties involved.