The senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District, Dr. Jimoh Ibrahim, has withdrawn the suit he instituted against the governor of Ondo State and the APC flag bearer in the November 16 Governorship Election of Ondo State.
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Abuja, Honourable Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, had earlier approved the request of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to transfer the case filed by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim against the Ondo State Governorship Primary Election from Abuja to the Akure Division for hearing.
In a letter written to the Chief Judge by Matthew Burkaa SAN, counsel to APC and the 1st Respondent in the suit, the convenience of the parties was cited as the reason for the transfer, since the plaintiff and defendants are based in Ondo State. Additionally, there is a Federal High Court in the state.
The case, which was slated for mention before Justice Inyang Ekwo in Abuja on May 29, will now move to the Federal High Court Akure, in line with extant practice directions issued by the Honourable Chief Judge.
However, in a swift twist on Tuesday, Senator Ibrahim issued a press statement personally signed by him, hinging the withdrawal on the president’s intervention and the respect he has for the President.
“This suit is now withdrawn due to the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCRR. The president called me, had a meeting with me, and assured me he will, as the leader of the party, improve internal democracy within our party. I will need to withdraw the case to enable him to chart a way forward. The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, earlier visited my Asokoro residence for several hours after another unsuccessful visit to my hotel room in Akure.
“I cannot disobey the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria because the issue I am fighting for is not personal. It is simply to improve internal democracy, which the President has promised to enhance. My respect for the President is absolute!”
Senator Jimoh Ibrahim had instituted the suit at the Abuja Division of the Court on May 3, 2024, seeking to void the primary election that produced Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa as the candidate of the party for the November election. The defendants in the suit are the APC, Governor Aiyedatiwa, and INEC.
