On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, disqualified Olusola Ebiseni as the Labour Party candidate for the next Ondo State governorship election, which is slated for Saturday, November 16, 2024.
In a unanimous ruling, the three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Hamma Barka and delivered by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, ruled that “the appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024 brought by the Labour Party against Chief Olusola Ebiseni and two others is allowed.”
Justice Banjoko further stated that the Certified True Copy of the judgment would be made available to the parties to the appeal as soon as feasible for review.
In his contributed judgment, Justice Abba Mohammed agreed with his colleagues’ decision.
Justice Nwite affirmed that the Labour Party’s second primary election, which produced Ebiseni and Awude as governorship and deputy governorship candidates, was legitimate and should be recognized by INEC.
In his decision on the complaint brought by Ebiseni and Awude, designated FHC/ABJ/CS/1105/2024, Justice Nwite acknowledged evidence that Ebiseni had paid N20 million for the nomination form and was officially handed a form, resulting in the second primary election.
He further noted that there was evidence that the Labour Party had authorized Ebiseni to pay N5 million to one Festus Olorunfemi as compensation for withdrawing from the governorship race.
Justice Nwite thus ordered INEC to recognize Ebiseni and Awude’s nominations and publish their names as the Labour Party’s authorized candidates for the Ondo State governorship election on November 16.
However, the appellate court overruled the trial court’s decision.
