The Ado-Ekiti Local Council Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Michael Akinleye, has sued the party over alleged plot to impose former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, as the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the party.

In the originating summon with registration No. FHC/AD/C8/8/2020 deposed to by his legal counsel, Taiwo Omidoyin and Tunde Oke, which was filed before the Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti, Akinleye sought an order restraining the party from nominating Ajimobi or anybody to the vacant position without following the due process and dictate of the APC’s constitution.

Akinleye, who claimed to be an aspirant for the position in the originating summon, said his right had been violated and grossly infringed upon by the action taken by the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee (NWC).

He stated that he expressed his interest to vie for the position in a letter dated January 20, 2020, which he forwarded to Ekiti APC to nominate him for the position

Joined in the suit are APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole (1st respondent), National Working Committee (2nd), National Vice Chairman, South West (3rd), APC South West Zonal Caucus (4th), Ekiti State Chairman of APC (5th), Ekiti State Caucus of APC (6th), All Progressives Congress (7th) and Senator Abiola Ajimobi (8th).

He asked the court to determine whether Ajimobi’s imposition was not a violation of Articles 17 and 20 of the party, which stipulated that such position can only be filled by a consensus among aspirants or by elections during congress and convention.

The plaintiff, therefore, sought an order compelling the party “to follow its constitution, customs and practices by filling the vacant position with a duly nominated candidate from Ekiti State to complete the unexpired tenure of four years mandate given to the state through the former occupier of the office, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, who is currently the Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment.

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