Court of Appeal clears Oyebanji, ends APC nomination dispute ahead of Ekiti poll

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed Governor Biodun Oyebanji as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship election.

In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, a three-member panel led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko dismissed an appeal filed by APC member, Mrs Abimbola Olawumi, who challenged the outcome of the party’s primary election.

The appellate court held that the appeal was incompetent, noting that the appellant’s brief of argument was filed in violation of court rules after exceeding the prescribed page limit.

According to the court, the appeal lacked valid supporting arguments and could not be sustained.

The court also upheld the cross-appeal filed by Governor Oyebanji, ruling that the lower court erred in recognising Olawumi as an aspirant within the meaning of the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022.

The judgment effectively settles, at the appellate level, the dispute surrounding Oyebanji’s nomination and clears the way for him to contest Saturday’s governorship election as the APC flagbearer.

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