By James Ogunnaike
The leadership tussle rocking the Ogun State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has been laid to rest as the Federal High Court, Abeokuta, on Friday dismissed the suit of Mr. Samson Bamgbose in which he was challenging his suspension as the Chairman of a faction of the party in the state
It would be recalled that Bamgbose and five others were on the 9th of November, 2020, suspended as members of the State Working Committee and State Executive Committee of the PDP over anti-party activities.
Bamgbose and others had approached the court in Suit No. FHC/AB/CS/112/2020 seeking to have their suspension upturned.
He sued Dr. Remilekun Bakare, Mr. Adeleke Shittu, Mr. Boladale Sanni, PDP, the Inspector-General of Police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
At some point in the suit, Mr Oyejide Sunkanmi, Hon. Kayode Mohammed and Chief (Mrs) Nike Ejioye joined the suit as interested parties.
The defendants through their counsel, Mrs Ifeoma Esom, filed a Notice of Preliminary Objection, asking the court to dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction because the suit relates to internal affairs of the PDP.
They also contended that Bamgbose and his cohorts having been suspended lack the locus standi to institute the action on behalf of the Ogun State Executive Committee of the PDP.
Ruling on the Notice of Preliminary Objection on Friday, the trial judge, Hon. Justice Joyce Obehi Andulmalik, agreed with the defendants that it lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the suit, as the original jurisdiction of the Federal High Court is clearly stated in Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution.
The court held that in determining whether or not a court has jurisdiction, reliance is placed on the claims of the plaintiffs and the affidavit in support of same, adding that upon a careful perusal of the originating summons and affidavit in support of it, it was clear that the suit relates to the intra-party tussle between two factions of the PDP following the suspension of Bamgbose and others.
“Consequently, I have no restraint in holding that the suit is not justiceable…The 5th (INEC) and 6th (IGP) defendants were added as a decoy to deceive the court,” it was held.
The court further declared that the fact that the plaintiffs filed the action against the 4th respondent (PDP) showed that they are not representing the interest of the party in the state.
It wondered why Bamgbose, who claimed to be a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP did not take his matter to the body instead of rushing to court.
The court advised politicians to either abide by the decisions of their political parties, leave or retire from any party they are not in agreement with instead of bothering the court with frivolous suits.
Consequently, the court dismissed the suit and awarded a total cost of N10 million against Bamgbose at N2 million each in favour of the five defendants.
With the latest ruling of the court, the leadership tussle that rocked the late Senator Buruji Kashamu political family within the Ogun State PDP has been resolved.
Recall that shortly after the death of the late Senator Kashamu some impostors led by one Segun Seriki and Bamgbose had moved to trade off the structure for pecuniary gains, a move which led to their suspension from their positions and party.
All efforts to have the suspension reversed have failed.
It would be recalled that the Federal High Court, Abuja, as per the Hon. Justice M.O. Olajuwon, had on the 22nd of June, 2021, affirmed Bamgbose’s suspension.
It also entered as judgment of the court the terms of settlement executed by Barrister Taiwo Shote, on behalf of the Kashamu political family.
With the latest development, the terms of a settlement brokered by the Dr. Bukola Saraki-led National Reconciliation and Strategy Committee of the party and executed on the 18th of March, 2021 by Shote with the Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele-led State Executive Committee, which has been further entered as a judgment of the court, the tussle over the leadership of Ogun State PDP has been finally laid to rest.
