‎The Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, sacked the lawmaker representing the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency of Ondo State, Timehin Adeleye, as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, and declared Abdugani Arobo as the party’s candidate.

‎Adeleye’s name was included among the names of candidates sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission by the APC’s National Working Committee.

‎Not satisfied with the NWC’s decision, many APC members and chieftains in the state protested against the decision, with Arobo challenging the committee’s decision at the court.

The defendants In the suit are the APC and INEC.

‎‎In a judgement delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, the court held that the APC failed to make the lawful return and that the evidence of the APC 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 the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency.

‎The judgement 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 the 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 the 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 the rightfully nominated candidate of the 1st defendant, for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency general election, to be conducted in 2027.” (The PUNCH)