In a major development just days before the Ondo State governorship election, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has disqualified Olusola Ebiseni as the Labour Party’s candidate for governor.
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, will have significant implications for the upcoming election scheduled for Saturday, November 16, 2024.
A three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Hamma Barka and with a unanimous decision delivered by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, granted an appeal against the lower court’s ruling.
The appeal, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024, resulted in the disqualification of Ebiseni, effectively removing him from the race.
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The Court of Appeal’s decision overruled a previous judgment by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Nwite had earlier ruled in favor of the Labour Party, affirming the validity of the second primary election in which Ebiseni was nominated as the party’s candidate for governor.
He had also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept and recognize Ebiseni and Ezekiel Awude as the party’s official candidates for the November 16 election.
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Justice Banjoko, in delivering the appeal court’s ruling, stated that the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment would be provided to the parties involved for review at the earliest convenience.
Justice Abba Mohammed, who concurred with the ruling, also expressed agreement with the decision.
The disqualification of Ebiseni comes as a blow to the Labour Party, particularly after the Federal High Court’s ruling had cleared the path for him to run.
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