Election: Court strikes out case against Oyo Speaker

Justice Eni Esan of the Oyo State High Court on Tuesday struck out a suit instituted by Mr Mark Akinyode against the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Michael Adeyemo.

Akinyode had prayed the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise him as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Ibarapa East for the state House of Assembly election.

He informed the court that he won the primary election, instead of Adeyemo whose name was submitted by the party to INEC despite losing the primary election.

Akinyode also informed the court that he had 137 votes while the defendant, who is now the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, had 134 votes.

Esan struck out the suit when Mr Adedotun Ishola, counsel to Akinyode, informed the court that his client had instructed him to discontinue the case.

The judge struck out the case and awarded N20,000 in favour of the defendant.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the claimant’s counsel informed the court that his client discontinued the matter due to pressure from the party.