The Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, has disqualified Chief Olusola Ebiseni as the Labour Party candidate for the upcoming Ondo State governorship election slated for Saturday, November 16, 2024.
The judgment, delivered unanimously by a three-member panel of justices led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, overturned an earlier Federal High Court ruling that had validated Ebiseni’s candidacy.
Justice Banjoko, in delivering the lead judgment on Wednesday, clarified that the appeal brought by the Labour Party against Ebiseni and two others, marked CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024, was allowed based on substantial eligibility concerns.
According to the appellate court, Ebiseni’s disqualification stemmed from irregularities surrounding the Labour Party’s primary election process.
The court found that the second primary election, which produced Ebiseni as the governorship candidate, failed to comply with the provisions of the Labour Party’s constitution and Nigeria’s Electoral Act.
Specifically, the court held that the primary violated internal party rules and did not meet the transparency and procedural requirements necessary to validate the candidacy.
The judgment also noted that Ebiseni’s nomination was the result of a factional dispute within the Labour Party. The party leadership was accused of conducting parallel primaries, which led to the emergence of multiple candidates.
The appellate court determined that the primary election that produced Ebiseni lacked the official recognition of the Labour Party’s National Working Committee, rendering the process illegitimate.
Furthermore, the court found evidence of procedural lapses in the submission of Ebiseni’s nomination forms to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
These lapses, according to Justice Banjoko, were sufficient grounds for disqualification, as they undermined the credibility and legality of his candidacy.
The decision invalidates the earlier ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Justice Nwite had ordered INEC to accept and recognize Ebiseni and his running mate, Ezekiel Awude, as the Labour Party’s governorship and deputy governorship candidates, declaring the second primary election valid.
With the appellate court’s ruling, the Labour Party is now left without an official governorship candidate just days before the election.
The Certified True Copy of the judgment is expected to be provided to all parties involved for further review and possible action.
This development adds a significant twist to the Ondo State governorship election, as political analysts speculate on its potential impact on the Labour Party’s chances and the overall electoral landscape.
