Adedoja asks court to cancel PDP convention
One of the contenders for the PDP national chairmanship and ex-minister of Sports and Special Duties, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, has filed a suit at a Federal High Court in Abuja challenging the outcome of the party’s December 9 national convention. Joined in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the chairman of the PDP Convention Planning Committee and governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa. Briefing newsmen yesterday in Abuja shortly after he filed the suit challenging the outcome of the convention, Adedoja claimed that the PDP “deliberately” excluded his name from the list of aspirants on the ballot papers. Adedoja was among the about 10 aspirants for the PDP chairmanship which was won by Prince Uche Secondus. His going to court could, however be seen as a serious setback to the ongoing reconciliation moves by the PDP in the aftermath of the convention which has left many aspirants for various offices disappointed. When asked by reporters to give more insight as to why his name was missing from the list of chairmanship contestants, the exminister said the name reflected on the ballot papers was ‘Taoheed Oladoja’ instead of ‘Taoheed Adedoja,’ claiming that that was why the delegates did not vote for him.
Adedoja is asking the court to cancel the result of the election and order the conduct of a fresh elective national convention for the election of national chairman within 30 days. He is also praying the court to declare as null and void, the election of the national chairman and any document submitted by PDP or “purported occupier” of the position of the national chairman to INEC.
“I was unlawfully excluded from the list of the contestants for the position of national chairman of the PDP which is a flagrant violation of the electoral act, the constitution of PDP, the guidelines for conduct of PDP national convention and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Having built a political career for 14 years, the declaration of a zero score by PDP credited to me has embarrassed and maligned me and brought great ridicule to my political standing and goodwill nationally and internationally.
“Since the announcement of the result, I have suffered psychological trauma as a result of the public ridicule the election result has caused me, my family members, friends and associates.
“My lawyers are demanding for appropriate compensation for damages, ridicule, embarrassment and disrepute brought to my name as a result of my willful exclusion from participating in the election resulting to zero score credited to my name which is now in public domain.
“My lawyers, Messrs Rickey Tarfa and Co, have filed a suit this morning (yesterday) at the Federal High Court in Abuja, to seek redress,” he said.
Adedoja claimed that the reconciliation panel was yet to reach him, but had reached out to other aspirants in the South-west. He added that he opted for the court because there was no post-convention appeal panel for him to table his grievances.