INEC finally bows to Eyitayo Jegede of Ondo state after Wednesday's Appeal Court ruling

After all the abracadabra judgement delivered by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, which result to weeks of uncertainties and tension in the political arena of Ondo State, justice was finally meted to the aggrieved members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Accordingly, the Independent National Electoral Commission has communicated how satisfied they are with the Appeal Court ruling that sacked questionable very rich person, Jimoh Ibrahim, as the applicant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Saturday's Ondo governorship election.

The Commission told journalist that it would agree to the decision and that it had been vindicated on who the first competitor is.

The Appeal Court, Wednesday evening, requested INEC to replace Mr. Ibrahim of the Ali Sheriff group of the PDP with Eyitayo Jegede who has a place with the Ahmed Makarfi group of the opposition party.

The Appeal Court, having been enabled to pass verdict on the matter by the Supreme Court on Tuesday, put aside a decision of the Federal High Court by Justice Okon Abang which proclaimed Mr. Ibrahim the hopeful of PDP.

INEC had consented to the decision of Mr. Abang – expelled by the Appeal Court as "virulent attitudinal disposition to the rule of law" – and evacuated Mr. Jegede for Mr. Ibrahim as PDP's banner carrier in Ondo before today's decision.

In a text message sent to PRIMIUM TIMES, the Commission's Director of Voters' Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzie, communicated INEC's preparation to conform to the Appeal Court administering, subsequently re-including Mr. Jegede as the PDP hopeful.

“As we have always said, we will comply with the ruling or judgment of a superior court, said Mr. Osaze-Uzzie. “This (judgement) vindicates our earlier stand as to who d PDP candidate is.”

Mr. Jegede has the support of the current Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, who had met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House twice over the emergency.

Mr. Jegede, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, hails from the capital of Ondo State, Akure which has never produced any governor since the creation of the State.

In the meantime, in a different connection with PREMIUM TIMES, an INEC insider said while the commission is prepared to follow judgment it must be served before Friday to guarantee viable changes.

Also Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, in an announcement through his representative, Uche Anichukwu, hailed the judgment as "tonic for triumph".