In a very significant twist, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has replaced the Labour Party candidate, Olusola Ebiseni, with Dr. Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus.
In its decision with reference number CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024, the Court of Appeal found that the Federal High Court lacked the authority to provide such a decision. This was revealed by INEC in a statement posted on its official X account on Friday in accordance with the Court of Appeal’s decision.
“In obedience to the court order, the Commission has restored Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus, whose name was first published as the Labour Party candidate for the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election and uploaded same to our website for public information,” INEC said.
Earlier, a Court of Appeal in Abuja struck out a judgement by the Federal High Court, which had ordered INEC to accept Olusola Ebiseni as the Labour Party’s candidate. Prior to this court of Appeal judgement, a decision issued on September 27, 2024, the Federal High Court ordered INEC to accept Ebiseni for the next election.
The Court of Appeal, in its decision under reference number CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024, concluded that the Federal High Court lacked authority to issue such a determination when the Labour Party challenged the decision. Festus was immediately reinstated as the party’s candidate as a result of the appeal court’s ruling.
“The commission was yesterday, 14th November 2024, served with the Certified True Copy of the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
“The Federal High Court, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1105/2024, had on September 27, 2024, ordered INEC to accept Olusola Ebiseni as the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election.
“However, in the appeal with reference number CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024 filed by the Labour Party, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, struck out the judgement of the FHC for lack of jurisdiction,” it said.
