HIGH CHIEF (DR) OLUFEMI OLAIFA V. CHIEF R. A. ADENIJI & ORS

OBANDE FESTUS OGBUINYA, J.C.A. (Delivering the Leading Judgment): This appeal questions the correctness of the decision of the High Court of Osun State, sitting in Oshogbo (hereinafter called "the Lower Court"), coram judice: A. A. Aderibigbe, J., in Suit No. HOS/56/2013, delivered on 30th January, 2014. Before the Lower Court, the appellant was the defendant whilst the respondents were the claimants.

The facts of the case, which gave birth to the appeal, is amenable to brevity and easy appreciation. The respondents were elected State officers, Osun State Chapter, of All Farmers' Association of Nigeria (AFAN, for short). A new Constitution of the AFAN, which came to life in 2011, generated controversy over the tenure of the respondents as elected State officers. The National officers of the AFAN set up an Electoral Committee, with the appellant as its chairman, to conduct elections into the various offices in the Osun State Chapter. The Committee drew up guidelines for the election whi…