The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declared Barrister Ghani Arobo as the lawful candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to upload his name to its nomination portal within 48 hours.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Peter Lifu ruled that Arobo validly emerged as the winner of the APC primary election and held that the party’s subsequent substitution of his name with another aspirant was irregular, unlawful, and of no legal effect.
The APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) had earlier declared Emmanuel Adelegbe as the party’s candidate for the constituency. However, the court found that the party failed to submit a lawful return from the primary election.
Justice Lifu described the evidence presented by the APC as inconsistent and unreliable, adding that the party acted as a “tainted witness” in the matter.
In contrast, the court held that the evidence presented by Barr. Ghani Arobo and INEC, which monitored the primary election, was credible, consistent, and remained unshaken throughout the proceedings.
Consequently, the judge directed INEC to comply with the judgment by uploading Arobo’s name as the APC’s official candidate for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency within the court-prescribed 48-hour deadline.
Reacting to the judgment, Arobo expressed gratitude to the judiciary for upholding the rule of law and reaffirmed his commitment to an issue-based campaign focused on unity, development, and the progress of the constituency.
He also urged INEC to comply promptly with the court’s directive to avoid further disruption to the electoral process.
“We also call on the APC, its agents, and all political actors to accept the court’s ruling, refrain from actions that could escalate tensions, and work towards a transparent and credible electoral process that reflects the genuine choice of the people,” Arobo said.
The ruling is expected to have significant implications for the APC’s preparations ahead of the forthcoming election in the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, reinforcing the importance of internal party democracy and strict adherence to due process in candidate nomination…..See more