The Federal High Court sitting in Akure has reserved judgment in the legal battle over the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Ondo West/Ondo East Federal Constituency.
The presiding judge reserved judgment on Tuesday bringing an end to weeks of intense courtroom deliberation.
The case, which followed disagreement within the Ondo State chapter of the party, was instituted after the APC National Working Committee released its candidate list, allegedly replacing the incumbent lawmaker, Hon. Abiola Makinde, with Michael Olamidotun Akintomide.
Makinde is challenging the alleged substitution, arguing that he won the party’s direct primary election conducted across the constituency’s wards. He maintains that he was duly screened and cleared, and that the party cannot remove his name after a valid primary election.
He further contends that the APC’s decision violates relevant provisions of the Electoral Act governing the conduct of party primaries and the submission of candidates’ names.
However, Akintomide and the APC leadership argue that the party’s national leadership and National Working Committee possess the constitutional authority to review, ratify and submit its final candidate list to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
They also maintain that the party’s internal selection and dispute-resolution mechanisms justified the adjustment to the ticket in the interest of party cohesion.
The court reserved judgment after hearing the final arguments from all parties. No date has been announced for the delivery of the judgment.
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