A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, nullified the nomination of Governor Isiaka Oyetola of Osun as the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s candidate in the July 16 governorship election.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a judgment, nullified Oyetola and his deputy governorship candidate, Benedict Alabi, on grounds that Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, who submitted their names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (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. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had filed the suit against Governor Buni, Governor Oyetola and others.
Delivering the judgment, Nwite agreed with the submissions of the PDP counsel and declared as null and void, the nomination of Oyetola and Alabi by the APC. The court also held that Buni acted in contravention of the provision of Section 183 of the Constitution when he held dual executive positions as the Governor of Yobe and the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of APC. The court said that the decisions taken by Governor Buni, including forwarding the names of Oyetola and Alabi to INEC, amounted to a nullity in law.
