By Seyifunmi Odunuga
Mr Yekeen Lateef Abiola, a resident of No. 5, Oluwo Nla street, Basorun, Ibadan, Oyo State has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately disqualify Mr Adedeji Adesoji Micheal over alleged double nomination as candidate for two different political parties in the forthcoming 2023 National Assembly election for Ogo Oluwa/Surulere federal constituency without recourse to the Electoral Act which forbids an individual to stand as candidate for more than one political party.
Mr Adedeji Adesoji Michael’s name appeared on the INEC final list of nominees released on the 29th September, 2022 as candidate for the Federal House of Representatives in Ogo Oluwa and Surulere federal constituency under the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and Labour Party (LP) respectively.
However, the acceptance of the nomination of Mr Adedeji under two political parties is generating issues and has become a subject of concern to the petitioner and many people that got wind of the alleged attrocity which prompted him (the petitioner) to notify the INEC and seek Adedeji’s disqualification from the 2023 election into the House of Representatives.
In a petition to the National Chairman of the INEC, the petitioner claimed that Mr Adedeji committed the offence in flagrant disobedience to the provision of amended Electoral Act, 2022 which forbids a candidate to present him or herself for the same election under two or more different political parties, an offence, the petitioner alleged Mr Adedeji had committed by submitting two nominations: first as candidate of the PRP and Labour Party for the same elective office.
The petition written by his Lawyer, Abiodun Adegbite Esq. from the chambers of Flash Solicitors to the INEC National Chairman was dated October 6. A copy of the petition seen by this news medium read in part: “Upon the release of the final list of nominees by the commission, our client noticed to his utmost dismay that the name of Mr Adedeji Adesoji Michael had been fielded by two political parties to wits: Redemption Party (PRP) and the Labour Party (LP). Attached hereto are annexure A1 and A2.
Also, a quick perusal of the forms EC-9 (substitute), EC11-D, and its accompanying documents submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the said Mr Adedeji Adesoji Micheal clearly reveal that he had willfully allowed himself to be nominated by two parties as earlier stated.
Moreover, a keen scrutiny of the earlier mentioned documents also shows that Mr Adedeji Adesoji Micheal appended his signature on the relevant documents and affixed his passport sized photographs thereto confirming the identity of the same person (Mr Adedeji Adesoji Micheal) fielded on the platform of the two different political parties (People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and the Labour Party (LP) in the same election.
Moreover, the provision of Section 35 of the Electoral Act 2022 is unambiguous pertaining to cases of double nomination of a candidate which is to the effect that such nomination shall be declared null and void. Section 35 of the Electoral Act 2022 is hereby reproduced as follows:-
“where a candidate knowingly allows himself to be nominated by more than one political party or in more than one constituency, his nomination shall be void.”
It is trite to also state at this juncture that the nomination of Mr Adedeji Adesoji Michael is not only criminal but a blatant disregard of the provision of Section 35 of the Electoral Act 2022.” The petition stated.
On the strength of the foregoing, the petitioner seeks the disqualification of Mr Adedeji Adesoji Micheal by demanding the INEC to carry out a swift investigation with respect to the incident of his double nomination under two different political parties contrary to the extant provisions of the Electoral Law.
