Osun gov’ship: Court nullifies Oyetola’s APC nomination

A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the nomination of Governor Isiaka Oyetola and his deputy governorship candidate, Benedict Alabi, as candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election.

Justice Emeka Nwite on Friday held that both candidates having been submitted to INEC by Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State as the chairman of the caretaker committee of the party violated the provisions of Section 183 of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.

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The court also held that Governor Buni acted in contravention of the provision of Section 183 of the constitution when he held dual executive positions as the Governor of Yobe and the APC caretaker committee.

The PDP had filed the suit on 7th April 2022, through its counsel, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), challenging the nomination and sponsorship of Governor Oyetola and his deputy as the duly nominated APC candidates.

Governor Oyetola’s counsel, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), however, contended that the PDP lacked the locus standi to commence the action and that the suit was statute-barred.

But Ogunwumiju submitted that the suit was rightly commenced the suit under Section 285(14) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).