Court sacks Ondo Rep as APC candidate for 2027 polls

A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the candidacy of Mr. Timehin Adeleye, the incumbent lawmaker representing the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency in Ondo State, as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the upcoming elections. The court declared Abdugani Arobo as the legitimate candidate, ruling that Arobo won the party's primary election.

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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 Owo/Ose Federal Constituency.

The decision came after Arobo, one of the aggrieved aspirants, challenged the APC National Working Committee's decision to forward Adeleye's name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Many APC members and chieftains in Ondo State had also protested against the NWC's choice.

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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 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 the APC failed to provide a lawful return and that the party's evidence was marred by inconsistencies. The court affirmed that Arobo secured the highest lawful votes in the primary election held on May 16, 2026, with a total of 7,959 votes in Owo Local Government Area and 2,583 votes in Ose Local Government Area.

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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.

The court issued an order for the APC and INEC to recognize Arobo as the winner and the duly nominated candidate. It also granted a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from recognizing any other person besides Arobo for the constituency's House of Representatives seat. Furthermore, the court directed INEC to reopen its portal to upload Arobo's name as the APC's rightfully nominated candidate for the 2027 general election.

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An order is further made, directing the 2nd defendant forthwith, to reopen its portal, for the purpose of including and uploading the plaintiff’s name, as rightfully nominated candidate of the 1st defendant, for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency general election, to be conducted in 2027.