October 1, (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court on Friday, nullified the nomination of Osun state governor, Isiaka Oyetola and his Deputy Governorship candidate, Benedict Alabi, at the just concluded Osun state governorship election.
The court, in a judgement delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite, disqualified Oyetola and the deputy governorship candidate, Benedict Alabi, on the ground that Governor Mai Mala Buni, who submitted their names to INEC violated the provisions of Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
Buni was the Chairman of the National Caretaker and Extra Ordinary Convention Planning Committee of the APC, while Oyetola was a member.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kehinde Ogunwumiju, on April 7, 2022, commenced a suit at the Federal High Court to challenge the nomination and sponsorship of Governor Oyetola and his deputy as the duly nominated candidates of the APC.
Oyetola’s counsel, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), contended, amongst other grounds, that the Ogunwumiju is not competent to commence the action and that the suit was statute-barred.
In his judgement on Friday, Justice Emeka Nwite, agreed with the submissions of the plaintiff’s counsel and declared as null and void, the nomination of Governor Oyetola and Alabi by the APC.
The court also held that Governor Mai Mala Buni acted in contravention of the provision of Section 183 of the Constitution when he held dual executive positions as the Governor of Yobe State and the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of APC.
The court held that the steps or decisions taken by Governor Mai Mala Buni including forwarding the names of Governor Oyetola and Alabi to INEC amounted to a nullity in law.
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