Setback, As Suit Filed To Stop Ekiti, Osun Polls Is Adjourned Indefinitely

By Ayodele Oni

Easter break embarked upon by Judges of the Federal High Court nationwide has led to the adjournment of the case filed by a Yoruba Self Determination Group, Ilana Omo Oodua to stop the Ekiti and Osun States Governorship elections.

Ekiti poll is slated for June, while that of Osun holds in July.

The Group, under Prof Banjo Akintoye, filed two suits at  Federal High Courts in Ado-Ekiti and Osogbo, praying for a declaration that the current 1999 Constitution of Nigeria is illegal, invalid and of no effect whatsoever because no referendum was conducted before it was enacted.

The Activists, who are members of the umbrella body of Yoruba Self-determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, in the suits filed on their behalf by their Lawyer, Mr. Tolu Babaleye, has the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as Defendants.

The Activists, are demanding for a total rejection of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria to pave way for a referendum so that the indigenous people of Yoruba Land can decide on their nationhood.

They are also praying for a categorical order that against the backdrop that the current Nigerian Constitution is illegal and invalid, INEC does not have the law that can be used to conduct elections anywhere in Yoruba Land.

The Activists want the forthcoming Ekiti and Osun Governorship Polls and all future elections to be stopped in Yoruba Land until a referendum is held to decide on the system they want for themselves within Nigeria and whether they even want to remain as Nigerians.

Communications Secretary of the Yoruba Group, Maxwell Adeleye confirmed in a statement  to members that the case has been adjourned to no fixed date.

The statement : “This is to inform you that the mention of our case against the validity of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria earlier scheduled for Wednesday April 13th, 2022 at Federal High Court, Osogbo, Osun-State has been adjourned till further notice.

“Our Lawyer informed us that Judges in all Federal High Courts nationwide have proceeded on Easter Break thus, the case will not be heard in the fixed date.

“We shall communicate the new date to you as soon as we receive a correspondent from the Lawyer.”