Appeal Court Affirms Olafeso Group as Authentic PDP S’ West Leaders

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti
The Court of Appeal sitting in Ado Ekiti, yesterday set aside a ruling of the Federal High Court ina matter instituted by Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe against the executive of the party in the South-west zone.

The Federal High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti  had ruled in a matter brought before it by Ogundipe that he was still the National Vice Chairman (South-west) of the PDP but the executive led by Olafeso challenged the ruling.

In the suit number CA/EK/72/2017 between PDP and others as appellants and Makanjuola Ogundipe and 21 others as respondents, on the one hand and CA/EK/72A/2017 between Dr Eddy Olafeso and 10 others as appellants and Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe and 13 others as respondents, the Appeal Court allowed the appeal and set aside the judgment.

Commenting on the judgment, Olafeso’s counsel, Mr. Sunday Olowolafe, who held brief for Dr. Yomi Oke, said: “Our appeal was allowed because owing to the fact that all the issues we raised are valid.”
Olowolafe, who is the Legal Adviser of the PDP in the state, said the Appeal Court ruling which set aside the high court ruling, had confirmed Eddy Olafeso-led executive of the PDP as the authentic in the South-eest.

The counsel said the Appeal Court judgment had laid the matter to rest finally and expressed the hope that the matter had finally come to an end.
He decried the high court which he said “expanded the life of an ex-parte motion, which should have been a maximum of 14 days, to God knows when.

“Also speaking on the ruling, counsel for the first –fifth respondents, Ayodeji Makanjuola Esan, said: “It’s an appeal, they have given their judgment. That is why there are grades of courts.
”We will study the judgement and I will consult with my clients. Then we will decide on the next line of action.”
Also reacting to the judgment, Chief Sunday Ojo-Williams, who is the South-west Legal Adviser of the PDP, said it was a good thing that the matter had come to a head, and commended the judges.

Ojo-Williams said: “It’s a good thing to come out successful, but we must also appeal to those our members who are still out there to come back to the family.”
He said eight of the members of the Ogundipe group “had already returned and we have begun to work together. So Ogundipe and the remaining others should follow suit because not all our matter should be settled in a court of law.”