Yoruba Nation: Judge's absence stalls suit against Osun guber poll

The lawsuit by some members of the Ilana Omo Oduduwa challenging the eligibility of the 1999 Constitution to conduct the Osun 2022 election was stalled due to the absence of a judge.

Some members of the group had dragged the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court over the eligibility of Nigeria’s 1999 constitution to conduct gubernatorial elections for Ekiti and Osun States.

The suits, filed by about 20 persons, including the leader of the self-determination group, Professor Banji Akintoye; his Deputy, Professor Wale Adeniran; are demanding a total decommissioning of the 1999 constitution to pave way for a referendum so that the indigenous people of Yoruba land can decide on their nationhood, first and foremost.

On Tuesday in Osogbo, the lawyer of the group, Tolu Babaleye, said the group is challenging the 1999 constitution as it was neither made by Nigerians nor followed the process of constitution-making worldwide.

The lawyer added that the position of the group to have approached the court is that the constitution lied against itself and thereby lacks the legality under which the July 16 Osun gubernatorial election will be conducted.

The lawyer praised the members of the Ilana group for deciding to approach the court over the matter and not resulting in street demonstrations capable of causing a commotion, killing, and burning of houses among others.

The Deputy Secretary-General of the Ilana Omo Oduduwa Worldwide, Dr Kayode Akinwande, while speaking with journalists in the court premises stressed that the constitution is fraudulent and that the group will boycott the Osun gubernatorial elections should the court delay the trial.

Akinwande stressed that the constitution is fraudulent and that the group will boycott the Osun gubernatorial elections should the court delay the trial.

He added that the same struggle will be extended to the 2023 general election, noting that their demand is not an election or restructuring but a referendum.

The case was adjourned to Tuesday, May 24 again for mentioning.