COURT FIXES OCTOBER 26 TO RULE ON APC REPS TICKET DISPUTE IN OYO FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has fixed October 26, 2026, for ruling in a suit challenging the All Progressives Congress ticket for the Afijio/Atiba/Oyo East/Oyo West Federal Constituency, popularly known as Oyo Federal Constituency, ahead of the 2027 general election.
The suit, marked FHC/IB/CS/64/2026, was filed by Wakil Oyeleru Oyedemi against the APC, Akeem Adeyemi and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Oyedemi is seeking an order nullifying and setting aside the APC House of Representatives primary conducted in the constituency, alleging non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2026 and the party’s guidelines.
The parties were absent when the matter came up on Monday but were represented by their respective counsel, who adopted their processes and presented oral arguments before the court.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Musibau Adetunbi, appeared for the plaintiff, while Ibrahim Bawa (SAN) represented the APC. Kazeem Adedeji appeared for Adeyemi, while A.F. Lawal represented INEC.
Adetunbi urged the court to grant the plaintiff’s prayers and nullify the primary, arguing that the process was not conducted in compliance with relevant electoral requirements.
He particularly cited an affidavit and exhibit filed by INEC, alleging that accreditation of party members did not take place in some wards across the four local government areas.
According to him, the evidence before the court showed that accreditation was not conducted in Wards 4, 5, 6 and 7.
He therefore urged the court to order the APC to conduct a fresh primary within the stipulated period.
Responding to the preliminary objections raised by the APC, Adetunbi relied on previous judicial authorities to argue that the plaintiff was entitled to call agents in support of his case.
He also challenged the evidence presented by the defendants, urging the court to compare an INEC exhibit with an exhibit filed by the APC.
However, counsel to the APC, Bawa, urged the court to dismiss the originating summons, arguing that the plaintiff’s case was incompetent.
He contended that the matter was a special proceeding in which parties were not permitted to call witnesses, adding that the plaintiff had filed 39 affidavits without obtaining the required leave of court.
Bawa argued that the procedure adopted by the plaintiff was contrary to relevant provisions of the Evidence Act and Electoral Act.
Similarly, counsel to Adeyemi, Adedeji, urged the court to dismiss the plaintiff’s case, arguing that the defendants had provided evidence showing that an indirect primary election was conducted.
He maintained that the plaintiff’s case was based on the claim that no primary election was held and argued that the plaintiff could not introduce a different case concerning consensus during his submissions.
According to him, the plaintiff’s case should fail both in fact and law.
Counsel to INEC, Lawal, aligned himself with the submissions of the APC and adopted the processes already filed by the first defendant.
He also urged the court to dismiss the originating summons.
After listening to the submissions of all counsel, the presiding judge, Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha, adjourned the matter until Monday, October 26, 2026, for ruling.
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