Court Of Appeal Judgement: INEC Reinstates Olorunfemi As Ondo LP Gov Candidate, Removes Ebiseni

By Ayodele Oni

Less than 24 hours to the Saturday governorship election in Ondo State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has replaced the Labour Party, (LP) candidate, Olusola Ebiseni, with Dr. Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus.

Olorunfemi had emerged a candidate of the party in a primary election conducted by the LP before Ebiseni came, after losing primary of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) to declare himself a candidate of LP.

INEC explained that the change followed the receipt of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of a Court of Appeal ruling, which overturned the Federal High Court’s judgment in Abuja.

The update was shared in a statement on the commission’s X handle on Friday.

The Federal High Court, in September 27, in case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1105/2024, had directed INEC to recognize Olusola Ebiseni as the Labour Party’s candidate 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.

“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.”

Speaking on the development, the LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiorah Ifoh, explained that Ebiseni was the candidate put forward by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) faction within the party.

However, the Appeal Court had disqualified him and reinstated Dr. Olorunfemi as the valid candidate.

Ebiseni had on Thursday while reaction to the Court of Appeals judgement, claimed that it was silent on his candidacy.