Court sacks Ondo lawmaker as APC candidate, declares rival winner

A Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked lawmaker Timehin Adeleye, removing him as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency. The court declared Abdugani Arobo as the party's legitimate candidate, citing the APC's failure to provide a lawful return and evidence riddled with inconsistencies.

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The plaintiff, having scored the highest lawful votes cast at the primary election held on the 16th day of May, 2026, with a total of 7,959 votes in Owo Local Government Area and 2,583 votes in Ose Local Government Area respectively, is the only aspirant whose name can be lawfully forwarded to the second defendant (INEC) as its nominated candidate for the seat of the House of Representatives, representing the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency.

The decision followed a legal challenge by Arobo, who contested the APC National Working Committee's decision to field Adeleye. Many APC members and chieftains in Ondo State had also protested against Adeleye's candidacy.

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An order is hereby made for the defendants to forthwith accept, recognise, support, relate and deal with only the plaintiff, as winner of the House of Representatives election for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency; the plaintiff having scored the highest lawful votes cast in the first defendant’s primary election conducted on the 16th day of May, 2026.

In his judgment, Justice Peter Lifu stated that Arobo secured the highest lawful votes in the primary election held on May 16, 2026. The court ordered the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Arobo as the winner and to reopen the portal for his name to be uploaded as the nominated candidate for the 2027 general election. An order of perpetual injunction was also issued to prevent the defendants from recognizing any other person as the winner.

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An order of perpetual injunction is made restraining the defendants, their agents and privies howsoever described, from recognising, dealing or relating with any other person apart from the plaintiff, as winner of the House of Representatives election for Owo/Ose Federal Constituency; the plaintiff having scored the highest lawful votes cast in the first defendant’s primary election conducted on the 16th day of May, 2026.