Why Otegbeye’s Supporters Are Preparing To Launch His Guber Campaign

Supporters of Biyi Otegbeye say he will get back his mandate as the gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for the 2023 election in Ogun state.

And they have started putting finishing touches to the arrangements to launch his gubernatorial campaign based on this belief.

Otegbeye’s candidature was invalidated by a High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State in a judgment that faulted the manner of his emergence.

The Gubernatorial candidate who is enjoying the backing of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun appealed the court’s decision.

And his supporters insist that the unraveling development hints at a favorable outcome.

Among other reasons, Otegbeye’s legal team asserts that his disqualification from the Ogun state gubernatorial is against the rule. The team is arguing that the case is statute-barred – too much time has passed before it was initiated – and it was initiated by a party with no locus standi .

” it is only individual members within the ADC that have a right to sue and not an entity outside the party” Otegbeye’s lawyers insist and further explained that  ‘only an aspirant who participated in a primary can sue’. 

Otegbeye’s lawyers rely on precedents cases in Rivers State and other places and previous Appeal and Supreme Courts judgements to argue their position.

The case against Otegbeye was brought by persons outside the ADC.

SocietyNow.Ng gathered that Otegbeye’s supporters “confidence” in a favorable outcome is buoyed by the absence of the representatives and lawyers of the initiator, Labour Party at the last hearing of the case in which the Court reserved judgement in the Appeal case at a date to be communicated.

This development is viewed as a strong hint of what is to come by Otegbeye’s backers as they prepare to officially launch their campaign.

Insiders disclosed that the political structure to launch the campaign, described as a collaboration across the state, is already in place.