The legal battle over the All Progressives Congress (APC), ticket for Ileoluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency has come to an end after Hon. Mathew Oyerinmade, popularly known as MATO, formally withdrew his suit against Hon. Festus Adefiranye, the incumbent member.
The case, which challenged the substitution of Oyerinmade’s name by the APC National Working Committee (NWC) following the party’s House of Representatives primary, was struck out on Tuesday, August 12, at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Counsel to Hon. Oyerinmade, Dr. Remi Olatubora, SAN, informed the court of his client’s decision to withdraw the suit “for personal reasons.”
Following the application, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and counsel to the respondent, Adefiranye, both told the court they had no objection.
In a brief ruling, the presiding judge granted the application and dismissed the suit as the matter was thereafter struck out and removed from the court’s cause list.
In a statement issued after the proceedings and signed by Segun Odidi, Esq. for the MATO Mandate Group, the group said the release was “to set the record straight and to properly inform members of the public and stakeholders of the latest development.”
The withdrawal effectively clears the path for Adefiranye to proceed as the APC candidate for Ileoluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency in the forthcoming elections.