A’Court Sacks Ondo LP Gov Candidate, Ebiseni
Barely 72 hours to the governorship election in Ondo State, the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal, has sacked the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Olusola Nehemiah Ebiseni
The appellate court in a unanimous judgement upturned the judgement of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which recognised Ebiseni and his running mate, Ezekiel Awude, as authentic candidate of the LP in the November 16, governorship election in Ondo State.
The three-member panel in a unanimous decision held that,”the appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024 brought by the Labour Party against Chief Olusola Nehemiah Ebiseni and two others is allowed.”
According to the judgement prepared by Justice Hamma Barka, but read by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, the case of the appellants was meritorious and the reliefs sought were accordingly granted.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, had in his judgement ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept and recognise Olusola Nehemiah Ebiseni and Ezekiel Awude as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the Labour Party for the November 16 scheduled election in Ondo State.
Nwite gave the order while delivering judgement in a suit filed by the duo of Nehemiah and Awude, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1105/2024 between the Labour Party and six others vs. INEC.
The judge held that the second primary election held by the Labour Party, which produced Nehemiah and Awude, was valid and must be upheld by the electoral body.
Dissatisfied, LP and the six other plaintiffs in the suit approached the appellate court to set aside the judgement, on grounds that the trial court erred in recognising Ebiseni and his deputy as lawful candidates of the LP in Saturday’s election.
