The court of appeal has fixed Tuesday, November 1, to hear the case of Eyitayo Jegede, factional candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Ondo State governorship election.

Jegede was the candidate that emerged winner of the primary election organized by the Ahmed Makarfi faction of the PDP and was recognized by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

However, on Thursday when the electoral commission published a list of candidates contesting the election, it had substituted Jegede’s name with that of Jimoh Ibrahim, the candidate of the Ali Modu-Sheriff.

INEC said its decision to substitute Jegede’s name was based on a court ruling delivered on October 14, by Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Federal High Court, ordering it to recognize Modu-Sheriff as the authentic National Chairman of the PDP and as such, to recognize Ibrahim as the authentic candidate of the PDP in the Ondo governorship election.

Jegede then approached the federal high court seeking for permission to appeal the judgement, but the application was denied as Justice Abang held that Jegede had no locus standi to appeal the judgement since he did not take part in the Modu-Sheriff organized primary.

However, on Saturday, a three-man panel of appeal court judges led by Jummai Sankey, said that due to the urgency of Jegede’s application, the court would hear the matter on Tuesday.

“In view of the contentious notice, the appellant objector and appellant applicant are hereby given 24 hours to file their processes,” Sankey ruled.

“Application of the appellant applicant will be heard on Tuesday.”

The appeal court also said it would also hear an application filed by the Makarfi faction of the PDP, challenging the ruling which declared it illegal.