The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the nomination of Governor Isiaka Oyetola and his Deputy Governorship candidate, Benedict Alabi, as the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the July 16 governorship election in Osun.

In his judgement, Justice Emeka Nwite nullified the APC candidates on the grounds that Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, who submitted their names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) violated the provisions of Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The court also ruled that Governor Mai Mala Buni violated the provision of Section 183 of the Constitution when he held dual executive positions as the Governor of Yobe State and the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of APC.

Justice Nwite declared that the steps or decisions taken by Governor Mai Mala Buni, including forwarding the names of Governor Isiaka Oyetola and Benedict Alabi to INEC, amounted to a nullity in law.

Recall that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had filed the suit against Governor Buni, Governor Oyetola and others.

While challenging the competence of the suit, Kunle Adegoke (SAN) who represented Oyetola, had contended, amongst other grounds, that the PDP did not have the locus to commence the action and that the suit was statute-barred.

In his opposing arguments, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN) submitted that the Plaintiff rightly commenced the suit under Section 285(14) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

The court however ruled in favour of the PDP and declared the nomination of Governor Isiaka Oyetola and Benedict Alabi by the APC null and void.

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