OGUN APC PRIMARY CRISIS: Hunye's Camp Digs In As Court Battle Against Yayi Deepens, Says 'Money Cannot Buy Integrity Of The Judiciary'

 

ABEOKUTA — The fierce battle for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has taken a dramatic turn, as the camp of frontline aspirant Hon. Abayomi Hunye vows to pursue the legal challenge against Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, to a logical conclusion.

Hunye, who is challenging the flawed APC primary election and the nomination of Yayi before a Federal High Court, has dismissed attempts by political operatives to suppress the course of justice using deep pockets and high-level political influence.

Central to Hunye’s lawsuit are grave questions regarding statutory compliance, internal party democracy, and systemic irregularities during the APC primary process.

Hunye’s legal team, led by Barrister Olamide Victor, exposed glaring contradictions in claims made by party leadership alleging that Hunye was suspended prior to the primaries:

"If I was genuinely suspended on April 7, why did the party accept my ₦50 million payment for the nomination form on April 28? Why was my application processed, and why was I cleared by the screening committee to contest?" Hunye queried.

Furthermore, the legal team raised serious questions over alleged statutory inconsistencies in Yayi's previous nomination forms submitted under oath to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during his past political runs in Lagos State. Hunye's attorneys argue that perjury and discrepancies in state-of-origin documentation carry heavy constitutional consequences that cannot be swept under the carpet.

Amid allegations and mounting insinuations that the Yayi camp is attempting to deploy massive financial influence to muzzle the judicial process, Hunye expressed unshakeable faith in the Nigerian court system.

Hunye maintained that the facts of his case are overwhelming, unassailable, and firmly anchored on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act.

"We have chosen evidence. We have chosen the courts. We have chosen peace, and we will continue to choose the law," Hunye affirmed. "No amount of war chest or political intimidation can rewrite the law or buy the integrity of our noble judges."

Addressing rumors of heavy political lobbying around INEC following the publication of candidates' lists, Hunye’s camp warned against mistaking routine administrative publications for judicial validation.

Hunye expressed strong faith in the leadership of the INEC Chairman, stating confidence that the electoral umpire under his watch will strictly respect the rule of law and yield to judicial review.

"The governing principle is clear: administrative publication by INEC must never be confused with judicial determination, and no party or politician should consider themselves above the law," Hunye stated.

As legal proceedings heat up, Hunye’s legal team warned that failure by the APC leadership to address the deep-seated illegality in Ogun West could put the entire party's chances in jeopardy come the 2027 general elections, urging the courts to restore sanity and uphold internal party democracy.

As proceedings continue, the court's eventual decision will be central to determining the legal issues raised by the parties. For now, Hunye insists that he will not abandon his case, maintaining that the integrity of the judicial process must prevail over political calculations.