A Federal High Court in Abuja has made a major decision that is changing the political situation in Ondo State. Justice Peter Lifu has removed Hon. Adelegbe Oluwatimehin as the APC candidate for Owo/Ose Federal Constituency for the 2027 elections. Instead, the court named Abdugani Arobo as the rightful candidate.
Justice Lifu ruled that the APC National Working Committee (NWC) did not follow the proper rules when submitting its primary election results. The court found that the documents provided by the party had many mistakes. Because of this, the court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to open its portal and upload Mr. Arobo’s name as the candidate.
Starnews NG reports that this decision has caused a lot of political discussion among politicians in Ondo State, as it shows that the courts are now closely examining how political parties handle their internal candidate selections.
This ruling is important because it could affect other court cases. One of these is the case of Olumuyiwa Daramola v. Jimi Odimayo for Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency, which is coming up in court on August 12. The court’s decision on Hon. Timehin sends three clear messages to the APC and those involved in these upcoming cases:
Party Rules Matter: For years, party-backed candidates have sought refuge in Supreme Court precedents suggesting that the judiciary would not interfere in the internal nominations of a political party. However, this ruling reinforces that Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act binds parties strictly to their own guidelines. The court has made it clear that where the NWC unilaterally alters field results, such actions will be scrutinised as potential illegalities rather than internal party affairs.
Accuracy is Essential: In the Daramola v. Odimayo case, there is a dispute over the vote counts. Mr. Daramola claims he received 6,547 votes, while Mr. Odimayo was recorded as having 827 votes. Since the court just rejected Mr. Adeleye’s ticket due to “inconsistencies” in the party’s records, the legal team for the incumbent will need to explain how the party reached its final decision to produce Odimayo as candidate for Okitipupa/Irele Federal constituency.
Technical Arguments May Not Work: Some had argued that Mr. Adeleye was not properly included in the lawsuit. However, court records show he was listed as the first defendant. This suggests that candidates cannot easily avoid these cases by pointing to minor technical issues.
Beyond the courtroom, this ruling represents a significant setback for the APC NWC in Abuja, while simultaneously appearing to vindicate local party structures in Ondo State. Many in the state believe that the original primary winners were those supported by the local party structure under the leadership of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The NWC’s subsequent decision to overrule these results and restore tickets to entrenched incumbents now faces a legal reckoning. By compelling INEC to reopen its portal, the judiciary is systematically challenging the national leadership’s authority to impose candidates arbitrarily.
The political future of the APC in Ondo State will now depend on what happens in court next. Mr. Adeleye is expected to appeal the decision. Meanwhile, everyone is watching the Federal High Court in Abuja for the cases scheduled for August 12. If the court uses the same logic for the Daramola v. Odimayo and Oyerinmade v. Adefiranye cases, it could lead to more changes in the list of candidates for the general elections, Starnews NG reports.
Leave a Reply