The Court of Appeal ruling in Abuja which upturned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) substitution of Mr. Eyitayo Jegede with Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim of the Ali Modu-Sheriff faction of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) has sent wild jubilation across the length and breadth of Ondo State. The verdict thus sacked Jimoh Ibrahim and reinstated Jegede as the candidate of the PDP in the Saturday, November 26, Ondo State Governorship Election. Members of Jegede camp said Wednesday that the ruling of the Appeal Court was a dress rehearsal to their victory in the Saturday election.
Justice Saulawa set aside the ruling of Justice Okon Abang of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and dismissed the appeal filed by the Modu-Sheriff faction of the PDP against the Ahmed Makarfi faction of the party.
INEC had on Thursday, October 27, substituted Jegede with Jimoh as the PDP flag-bearer on the ground that Ibrahim faction of the PDP was the one recognized by the court.
The Appeal court case against Jimoh Ibrahim was filled by PDP stalwarts including Jegede, former Minister of Agriculture, Prof. Jerry Gana among others.
The Wednesday ruling followed the Supreme court verdict Tuesday, which ordered the appellate court to deliver judgment on all the appeals before it.
The ruling has also given a whisker of hope to the Markafi-led faction of the PDP which has been having a running battle with the Ali Modu Sherrif faction.
Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode in his twitter handle congratulated Jegede and berated the Sherrif group. For much of Wednesday, there was wild jubilation on the streets of Akure over the ruling.
