By Correspondent in Abuja.
An All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Mrs. Abimbola Olawumi, has approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking to nullify the party’s primary election that produced Governor Biodun Oyebanji as its candidate for the forthcoming 2026 governorship poll.
In a suit filed by her legal team led by O. A. Olawuyi, Olawumi prayed the court to set aside her purported disqualification by the APC and declare the process that endorsed Oyebanji invalid.
She also sought an order of injunction restraining the APC from excluding her from participating in its governorship primary pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2221/2025, has the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) listed as the 1st and 2nd defendants respectively.
Our correspondent reports that the suit,dated October 20 and filed on October 21, seeks four principal reliefs.
Olawumi asked the court to declare her disqualification during the party’s screening exercise unlawful, unconstitutional, null, and void, citing non-compliance with Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
She further prayed the court to affirm her right as a bona fide member of the APC to participate in the party’s governorship primary in Ekiti State.
Giving five grounds for her application, Olawumi stated that she was duly registered as a member of the APC, adding that she obtained and submitted all necessary nomination forms to contest the governorship ticket.
She alleged that her disqualification during the screening exercise conducted on September 24, 2025, was arbitrary and contrary to fair hearing, the APC constitution, and the Electoral Act.
“The disqualification was done without compliance with Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which provides that only a political party, aspirant, or candidate who complains that any of the provisions of the Act or party guidelines has not been complied with may apply to the High Court for redress,” she stated.
Olawumi further argued that the Federal High Court has jurisdiction to hear pre-election matters involving the nomination of candidates by political parties, citing Sections 6(6)(b) and 251(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The matter, presently before Justice Peter Lifu, also raises three questions for determination.
Our recalls reports that Governor Oyebanji was affirmed as the APC governorship candidate on Monday by 885 delegates drawn from the 177 wards across the 16 local government areas of the state at the party’s primary held at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado-Ekiti.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
