Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment in the two appeals filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate in the recent governorship election in Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola.
After hearing arguments from lawyers and parties, a three-member panel of the court made the decision on Friday.
The APC and Oyetola, among others, have petitioned the appellate court to vacate the September 30, 2022 judgment of Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In his decision, Justice Nwite overturned Oyetola’s nomination and that of his deputy governorship candidate, Benedict Alabi, as APC candidates in the July 16, 2022 election.
Justice Emeka Nwite ruled on Friday that Governor Mai Mala Buni (then Chairman of the APC’s caretaker committee) and those who submitted their names to INEC violated Section 183 of the Constitution and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
The decision was based on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDPFHC/ABJ/CS/468/2022 )’s suit against Mala Buni and four others.
The nominations of Governor Isiaka Oyetola and Benedict Alabi by the APC were declared null and void by Justice Nwite, who agreed with the plaintiff’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN).
The judge also ruled that Mala Buni violated Section 183 of the Constitution by holding dual executive positions as Governor of Yobe State and Chairman of the APC National Caretaker Committee.
