Court Sacks APC Lawmaker Ahead 2027 Polls

On Wednesday, the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled against Mr. Timehin Adeleye, who represented the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency of Ondo State, declaring him ineligible as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the federal constituency.

The court recognized Abdugani Arobo as the legitimate candidate for the party.

Adeleye had previously been listed as a candidate based on information provided to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC).

However, this decision sparked protests among several APC members and party leaders in Ondo State who opposed the NWC’s ruling.

Abdugani Arobo, one of the aspirants dissatisfied with the NWC’s selection, initiated legal action against the APC and INEC, culminating in the recent court decision.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, the court held that the APC failed to make the lawful return and that the evidence of the party was riddled with inconsistencies.

The court declared that the plaintiff (Arobo) was the winner of the primary election for the House of Representatives election for Owo/Ose Federal Constituency.

The judgment read, “The plaintiff, having scored the highest lawful votes cast at the primary election held on the 16th day of May, 2026 with a total of 7,959 votes in Owo Local Government Area and 2,583 votes in Ose Local Government Area respectively, is the only aspirant whose name can be lawfully forwarded to the second defendant (INEC) as its nominated candidate for the seat of the House of Representatives, representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency.

“An order is hereby made for the defendants to forthwith accept, recognise, support, relate and deal with only the plaintiff, as winner of the House of Representatives election for Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, the plaintiff having scored the highest lawful votes cast in the first defendant’s primary election conducted on the 16th day of May, 2026.

“An order of perpetual injunction is made restraining the defendants, their agents and privies howsoever described, from recognising, dealing or relating with any other person apart from the plaintiff, as winner of the House of Representatives election for Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, the plaintiff having scored the highest lawful votes cast in the first defendant’s primary election conducted on the 16th day of May, 2026.

“An order is further made, directing the 2nd defendant forthwith to reopen its portal, for the purpose of including and uploading the plaintiff’s name, as rightfully nominated candidate of the 1st defendant, for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency general election, to be conducted in 2027.”