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Senator Jimoh Ibrahim has filed a lawsuit challenging the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial primary election that took place on April 20, 2024.
The suit, lodged at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeks to nullify the primary election that led to the selection of the incumbent Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming governorship election.
The legal action, initiated on May 3, 2024, and marked as FHC/ABJ/ CS/588/24, accuses the APC, Governor Aiyedatiwa, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act of 2022, the APC constitution, and guidelines for candidate selection.
In a sworn affidavit, Senator Ibrahim alleges that the primary election was a “sham” and that the results were deliberately skewed to favor the incumbent governor.
He further asserts that the results announced by the APC’s Governorship Primary Election Committee were not a product of a legitimate collation of votes at designated local government electoral committee centers.
Ibrahim’s legal team, led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, highlights incidents of over-voting in multiple wards across various local governments.
These incidents, according to the suit, include but are not limited to Wards 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 10 in Akure South; Wards 3, 5, 7, 8, 10 in Owo Local Government; Wards 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10 in Ose Local Government; Wards 1, 2, 5, 7, 11, 14, 15 in Akoko South West; Wards 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 in Ondo West; and Wards 1-10 in Akoko North West.
The suit contends that these incidents of over-voting, as per the guidelines, render the results from these wards invalid, thereby vitiating the overall outcome of the primary election.
This legal challenge underscores the importance of electoral transparency and compliance with election laws and regulations.
It also highlights the contentious nature of political contests in Nigeria, where the process of selecting candidates for elective positions often becomes a matter of legal scrutiny.
As the Federal High Court in Abuja deliberates on the case, the political landscape in Ondo State remains in a state of flux.
The outcome of this legal battle will not only determine the fate of Governor Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy but also shape the political narrative in the state leading up to the governorship election.
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