Ogbomoso South constituency: Why I withdrew lawsuit against Maigida’s son – Ex-lawmaker, Hon Akande

Ogbomoso South constituency: Why I withdrew lawsuit against Maigida’s son – Ex-lawmaker, Hon Akande

Khalid ABRAHAM

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Hon Kayode Akande II, a former lawmaker, who represented Ogbomoso South state constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly between 2015 and 2019, has declared that he voluntarily withdrew his case against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Ayodeji Adegoke, dismissing the claim that it was struck out by the court.

Hon Akande II had challenged the emergence of Ayodeji Adegoke (son of Dr Samson Adegoke a.k.a. Maigida), as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general elections.

In the suit, marked FHC//2026, the APC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Adegoke were the first, second and third defendants respectively.

Akande II wanted the court to nullify Adegoke’s emergence as party’s flagbearer, alleging that he emerged through imposition instead of the stipulated direct primary or consensus, contrary to sections 84, 87 of the Electoral Act 2026, Article 20 of 1st Respondent’s Constitution and provisions of 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria. averred the process thus “is unlawful, illegal, ultra vires, unconstitutional, null and void.”

But amid the legal battle, according to Akande II, the APC leadership at the national level reached out to him following the advice of their legal adviser, and after he was appealed to and discussions held, he decided to withdraw the case on his volition.

He insisted the court did not strike out the case.

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In his affidavit in support of the motion, he deposed, “That it is my wish to withdraw this suit from this honourable court for the purpose of amicable settlement. That the National leadership of the party, All Progressives Congress led by the National Chairman met with me at Ibadan on Thursday, 20th August, 2026; on this action and pleaded with me to discontinue it in the interest of peace.

He further deposed, “That the National leadership of the party admitted responsibilities for all the irregularities that marred the House of Assembly primary in Oyo State on 20th May, 2026.

That I voluntarily decided to withdraw this action in the interest of peace and spirit of amicable settlement.”

Akande, a lawyer, asserted that the defense counsel did not object to his depositions here, positing, “especially paragraphs 3 & 4 It’s an admission against the party.”

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He argued, “It must be noted that a good lawyer wins a case from his chambers. If I could be very meticulous in handling the clients’ cases, how much more my personal case!”

He now claimed, “It is on record indisputably that the party leadership reached out to me on the litigation. On August 20, 2026; when the national chairman was in Ibadan, he met with me with the state chairman for 10 minutes. He pleaded with me based on the hint given to him by the national legal adviser of the party that in view of the new provision of the Electoral Act, it means the party will not have a candidate for the election in the constituency affected and that will make the opposition have a field day.

“The national chairman told the state chairman to do a follow up with me which H.E. Alake Adeyemo did well. He met with me two different times and Senator Sarafadeen Alli also called me 3 times by indisputable records pleading with me on the case.

“A good lawyer or a discerning mind that has the time to go through the processes I filed and the replies of the lawyers that represented those I dragged to the court will know that I had a very strong case and my mind was absolutely at peace on the case.

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“The matter was slated for definite hearing on 23rd September, 2026, and adoption of addresses and up till the morning that day, the state legal adviser still spoke with me on the case. I gave the state chairman my word to WITHDRAW THE CASE FROM THE COURT.

“I intentionally WITHDREW THE CASE and NOT THAT IT WAS STRUCK OUT for lacking in merit. Anyone with a misgiving can see the lawyers involved and read the processes thoroughly.

“I’m a man of justice and discipline, therefore I can never say or do what is not reasonable. I don’t have a dead conscience.

“God Almighty had already vindicated me for making the lawyer to APC in the case involving another aspirant from Kajola Constituency to make a good reference to my case, adopted my submission and ATTACHED ALL MY PROCESSES AS EXHIBITS TO SUPPORT THE PARTY’S POSITION. That was done to attack the other in the case in the SAME COURT HEARING MY CASE AT IBADAN without knowing that I will know. That is enough for the court to deliver a very short judgement in my favour, the party APC having adopted all my submissions in another case with the implication that the party, APC was misleading the court in my case.

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“Those waffling should get their facts. Justice shall always prevail and light shall always overcome darkness. Oppression and injustice shall dissipate, and their perpetrators shall know that God exists.

“I voluntarily withdrew the case. Get the facts right.

“If I had wanted to sell the case to opposition, would anyone have taken me for it? I know those that are averse to the voluntary withdrawal.

“Those with integrity were the ones that were bold enough to engage me for amicable settlement.”