Posted by Lere Olayinka, a media advisor to former governor Ayo Fayose, has been fined N2 million by a federal high court in Ado Ekiti for bringing a lawsuit challenging the way the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary for Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 2 was conducted.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the Federal Constituency, Olayinka, also had his lawsuit dismissed by the court presided over by Justice Babs Kuewumi because it was frivolous and without merit.
In the primary held in Aramoko, Ekiti, in May, Olayinka opposed Mr. Biodun Omoleye’s candidacy as the APC candidate.
Justice Kuewumi also declared the lawsuit to be barred by statute when he issued his ruling in the case with the case number FHC/AD/CS/38/2022.
The APC and Omoleye were later granted N2 million against Olayinka, and the amount was ordered to be paid right away.
In addition, Justice Kuewumi ruled that Olayinka lacked locus standi to bring the lawsuit, referring to him as a “meddlesome invader” and the first plaintiff.
Olayinka was the first plaintiff in the case, and the PDP, which is his party, was the second.
The APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and Omoleye are the defendants in the lawsuit (3rd).
Olayinka was requesting that the upcoming House of Representatives election, which produced Omoleye as the APC’s candidate due to an alleged irregularity, be declared invalid.
In response to the ruling, Mr. Gboyega Ajayi, a top APC official in the Federal Constituency, counseled Olayinka to focus his efforts on garnering the support of his constituents “instead of chasing shadows by trying to manipulate the process through bogus court lawsuits.”
Olayinka’s attempt to have the APC candidate, Omoleye, disqualified was termed by Ajayi as a futile exercise and an indication that he (Olayinka) is not prepared for a free and fair election in a statement made available to kuryaloaded on Wednesday.
He referred to Olayinka’s desperate attempt to obtain a seat in the House of Representatives by sneaking in as disgusting and added that Olayinka had brought the case in the first place knowing he had the resources and willpower to prevail in the election on February 25, 2023.
Lere Olayinka’s attempt to restrict the ability of the people of Ekiti Central Federal Constituency II to freely choose their preferred candidate for election, according to Ajayi, has failed.
“As a result, we would like to warn the PDP and Olayinka before they canvass for votes; they should be aware that the time of ‘jankara’ judgment is long over.
“We also counsel the PDP to repair its deteriorating structure rather than meddle in the internal matters of the APC. This decision is a win for democracy and an early confirmation of the APC candidate’s victory.