Court Sacks Oyetola as APC Governorship Candidate
By Collins Mbakwe
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, nullified the nomination of Governor Gboyega Oyetola and his Deputy, Benedict Alabi as candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in the just concluded Gubernatorial elections in Osun.
Presiding Justice, Emeka Nwite, held that the nomination of Oyetola and his deputy was unlawful.
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The suit marked; FHC/ABJ/CS/468/2022, was filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and has Ex-Chairman of APC and Yobe Governor, Mai Mala Buni as one of the defendants.
Justice Nwite held that Oyetola and Alabi’s nomination was unconstitutional because Buni, who submitted their names to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, violated the provisions of Section 183 of the Constitution and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
The court also held that Governor Mai Mala Buni acted in contravention of 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.
Oyetola’s counsel however argued that the court should dismiss the case because the plaintiff did not have locus standi to commence the legal action against the defendants.
The court held 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.
