ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Federal High Court in Akure, Ondo State, has dismissed a case challenging the qualifications of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, in the November 16 governorship election.
The suit was brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Agboola Ajayi, through his counsel, M. Ndoka (SAN), alleging discrepancies in the names and credentials of the APC deputy governorship candidate, Adelami.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Toyin Bolaji Adegoke ruled that the plaintiff lacked the legal standing to file the case.
She also declared the case statute-barred for being filed beyond the 14-day limit set by the Electoral Act. Furthermore, the judge held that the use of originating summons instead of a writ of summons invalidated the filing process.
Ajayi had argued that Adelami used multiple conflicting names, including “Adelami Owolabi Jackson” and “Olaide Owolabi Adelami,” and sought the disqualification of both APC candidates.
READ ALSO: Ondo 2024: Akeredolu’s Kinsmen, Other APC Leaders Support Aiyedatiwa
He also requested the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from listing or recognizing their names.
However, counsel to Adelami, Remi Olatubora (SAN), provided evidence showing that the discrepancies in the names were merely a matter of arrangement, Channels Television reports.
He explained that the 1974 West African Examination Council (WAEC) result carried the name “Adelami Owolabi Jackson,” while the 1982 degree certificate from Ambrose Alli University bore “Adelami Olaide Owolabi.”
Supporting the defense, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), representing Aiyedatiwa; Ebun Adegboruwa (SAN), representing the APC; and Charles Edosan (SAN), representing INEC, argued that the plaintiff had no grounds under Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022, as he was neither an APC member nor a participant in the party’s primaries.
Justice Adegoke agreed with the defense, stating that the plaintiffs lacked the right to challenge APC candidates’ qualifications since they were not aspirants in the APC primary.
She also clarified that allegations of certificate forgery and perjury were criminal matters requiring evidence from relevant issuing authorities.
The court ultimately resolved all issues in favor of the defendants, declaring it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case and dismissing it in its entirety.
This ruling has reinforced the legitimacy of the APC candidates in the Ondo governorship election.