ONDO GUBER ELECTION 2024: INEC Complies With Court Order, Recognizes Festus As Labour Party Candidate
•By Our Reporter
ABUJA – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reinstated Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus as the Labour Party’s candidate for the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election. This decision follows a ruling by the Court of Appeal, which affirmed his candidacy after a protracted legal battle.
This decision follows a ruling by the Court of Appeal, which affirmed his candidacy after a protracted legal battle.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced on Friday through its official handle on X that it would comply with a recent decision by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
The appellate court overturned a September 27, 2024, ruling by the Federal High Court, which had directed INEC to accept Olusola Ebiseni as the Labour Party’s candidate for the upcoming election.
INEC’s announcement follows the Court of Appeal’s judgment, which nullified the earlier order compelling the electoral body to recognize Ebiseni as the party’s flag bearer.
However, the Labour Party, dissatisfied with the Federal High Court’s earlier ruling, filed an appeal under case number CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024. In its judgment, the Court of Appeal declared that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to make such a determination.
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Following this appellate court decision, Festus was immediately reinstated as the Labour Party’s candidate for the election.
In compliance with the Court of Appeal’s ruling, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has updated its records to reflect Festus as the official candidate of the Labour Party.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the details of the Court of Appeal’s decision on its official website, providing clarity on the Labour Party’s candidate for the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election.
In a statement issued yesterday, November 14, 2024, the Commission disclosed that it had been served with the Certified True Copy of the Court of Appeal’s judgment, which set aside an earlier ruling by the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja Division.
The FHC, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1105/2024, had on September 27, 2024, ordered INEC to recognize Olusola Ebiseni as the Labour Party’s candidate for the upcoming governorship election in Ondo State.
However, the Labour Party appealed the decision in suit number CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024. The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, subsequently struck out the FHC ruling, citing a lack of jurisdiction in the matter.
The judgment now confirms the Labour Party’s candidate for the Ondo State Governorship election, as initially submitted to INEC.
Details of the judgment are now accessible on the Commission’s website for public information.
The Commission, in compliance with the court’s directive, has reinstated Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus as the Labour Party candidate for the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election. His name, originally published as the party’s candidate, has been restored and uploaded to our website for public information,” the Commission stated.
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