Key Facts
- A Federal High Court in Abuja has declared Abdugani Arobo the lawful APC candidate for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency House of Representatives election.
- The court nullified the nomination of Timehin Adeleye.
- Justice Peter Lifu ruled that Arobo lawfully won the APC primary conducted on May 16, 2026.
- The APC was ordered to recognise only Arobo as the winner of the primary election.
- INEC was directed to reopen its nomination portal to receive Arobo’s name ahead of the 2027 general election.
Court Decision Reshapes APC Ticket In Ondo
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has altered the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s candidate list for the 2027 House of Representatives election by declaring Abdugani Arobo the valid winner of the party’s primary election for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency in Ondo State.
In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the nomination earlier given to Timehin Adeleye could not stand after finding that Arobo was the aspirant who lawfully emerged from the APC primary election.
The ruling means Arobo is now recognised by the court as the party’s legitimate candidate for the constituency.
Why The Court Reached That Decision
The dispute began after the APC submitted Adeleye’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), despite Arobo insisting that he had legitimately won the party’s primary election.
Dissatisfied with the party’s decision, Arobo approached the Federal High Court, asking it to determine the rightful outcome of the APC primary and the lawful candidate for the 2027 House of Representatives contest.
After reviewing the evidence presented by the parties, Justice Lifu held that the APC failed to make a lawful return from its primary election and observed that the evidence tendered by the party contained material contradictions.
Verified Results From The APC Primary
In determining the dispute, the court relied on the official vote figures from the APC primary election held on May 16, 2026.
According to the judgment:
- Arobo secured 7,959 votes in Owo Local Government Area.
- He also recorded 2,583 votes in Ose Local Government Area.
Based on those results, the court concluded that Arobo obtained the highest lawful votes cast during the exercise and therefore emerged as the valid winner of the APC primary.
Background To The Legal Challenge
Although the APC National Working Committee forwarded Adeleye’s name to INEC after the primary election, the decision generated opposition from some party leaders and members within Ondo State.
The disagreement over the party’s nomination eventually led Arobo to institute legal proceedings, arguing that the outcome submitted to INEC did not reflect the lawful result of the primary election.
The court’s judgment has now settled that dispute in his favour.
Orders Issued To APC
Having determined that Arobo lawfully won the primary election, the court declared that he is the only aspirant whose name can legally be presented by the APC as its candidate for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 general election.
Justice Lifu further directed the APC to recognise, accept and deal exclusively with Arobo as the winner of the primary election.
The court also restrained the party, its officials and representatives from recognising or dealing with any other individual as the APC candidate for the constituency.
INEC Directed To Receive Fresh Nomination
Beyond the declaration of the rightful candidate, the court issued a consequential order to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Justice Lifu directed INEC to reopen its nomination portal to enable the APC upload Arobo’s name as its duly nominated House of Representatives candidate for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general election.
The order is intended to ensure that the party’s nomination record reflects the court’s judgment.
Why This Matters
The judgment resolves an internal APC nomination dispute through judicial intervention and establishes the candidate the party can lawfully sponsor for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency election in 2027.
It also underscores the role of the courts in determining post-primary disputes where party members challenge the conduct or outcome of internal nomination processes.
What Happens Next?
Unless a higher court overturns the decision, the APC is expected to comply with the judgment by recognising Arobo as its candidate and forwarding his details through the reopened INEC nomination portal in preparation for the 2027 general election.
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