Group decries ‘miscarriage of justice’ over Ondo PDP gov’ship tussle

The Coalition for Stable Democracy (CSD), an alliance of pro-democracy groups, has urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to take urgent steps to ensure that justice is served in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) candidacy in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State.

The group warned that the judiciary should not allow itself to be used to subvert the people’s will.

It described as “miscarriage of justice” the ruling delivered by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja on the PDP flag-bearer in the state.

Justice Abang had last Friday, ruled that the name of Mr Eyitayo Jegede be substituted with that of Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, as PDPs candidate for the election.

In a statement jointly signed by Victor Aderibigbe and Abdullahi Sanni, national co-ordinator and secretary, respectively, the coalition said the event of 1983 political crisis in Ondo would be a child’s play if the judiciary allowed itself to be used to truncate the people’s will.

The group alleged that the ruling was part of an unfolding plot to deprive Mr Eyitayo Jegede’s candidacy in order to brighten the chance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

“Curiously, Justice Abang had earlier withdrawn from the same case when the state chapter of the PDP expressed doubt regarding his sincerity in handling the case fairly and without bias.

“This is why we view this latest ruling with suspicion, especially, considering the accusation by the State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Banji Okunomo, that a counsel, Mr Olagoke Fakunle (SAN), who took the summon for the plaintiffs, later appeared for the defendants,” it said.