Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports
The nomination of Governor Gboyega Oyetola and his Deputy Governorship candidate, Benedict Alabi, for the last governorship election in Osun State has been revoked by a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Emeka Nwite ruled on Friday that Governor Mai Mala Buni, who submitted their names to INEC, violated Section 183 of the Constitution and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
The decision was made in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) suit FHC/ABJ/CS/468/2022 against Mala Buni and four others.
Justice Nwite agreed with the plaintiff’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), and declared the APC’s nominations of Governor Isiaka Oyetola and Benedict Alabi null and void.
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’s National Caretaker Committee.
The PDP filed the lawsuit on April 7, 2022, to challenge Oyetola’s nomination and sponsorship as the APC’s duly nominated candidates.
Kunle Adegoke (SAN), a lawyer for the APC and Oyetola, questioned the suit’s competence.
Adegoke contended, among other things, that the plaintiff lacked locus standi to file the suit and that the suit was barred by statute.
In his counter-argument, Ogunwumiju argued that the plaintiff had the right to file the suit under Section 285(14)(c) of the Constitution, which Justice Nwited upheld in his decision.
