By CoolNews Nigeria Reporter, Abuja
ABUJA – The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the candidacy of Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship election, dismissing the appeal filed by former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Mrs. Abimbola Olajumoke Olawunmi.
The appellate court’s decision brings to an end months of legal battles arising from the APC governorship primary election that produced Governor Oyebanji as the party’s candidate.
In a judgment delivered by a three-member panel of justices, the court upheld the earlier decision of the Federal High Court, which had dismissed Olawunmi’s challenge against her disqualification from the APC primary election.
The court also condemned what it described as an attempt by the appellant to frustrate the judicial process after proceedings had been concluded and judgment reserved.
Justice Okon Abang, who delivered the lead ruling in a related application filed by Olawunmi, described her request to reopen the appeal as “hopeless, reckless and an abuse of court process.” The judge held that there was no legal basis for setting aside proceedings that had already been concluded simply because the appellant engaged a new lawyer after arguments had been adopted and judgment reserved.
According to the court, Olawunmi was present when the appeal was heard on June 2 and was duly represented by counsel. The panel ruled that she could not subsequently seek to reopen the matter merely to amend her brief of argument.
Justice Abang noted that the court would not permit any litigant to arrest or delay a judgment that had already been reserved for delivery, stressing that such actions undermine the administration of justice.
As a consequence of what the court termed a waste of judicial time, the panel awarded a punitive cost of N6 million against Olawunmi. The amount is to be paid equally to Governor Oyebanji, the APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with each respondent receiving N2 million.
BACKGROUND TO THE DISPUTE
The legal dispute originated from the APC governorship primary election in Ekiti State. Olawunmi, one of the aspirants seeking the party’s ticket, was disqualified during the screening process and subsequently challenged her exclusion in court.
She approached the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to invalidate the process that led to the emergence of Governor Oyebanji as the APC candidate. However, the lower court dismissed her suit, leading to the appeal before the Court of Appeal.
POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS
The judgment is widely viewed as a major legal and political victory for Governor Oyebanji ahead of the Ekiti governorship election.
Political observers believe the decision has effectively removed one of the major legal obstacles confronting the governor’s re-election bid and has strengthened the APC’s position going into the election.
The ruling also reinforces the judiciary’s position that political aspirants must comply strictly with established legal procedures and timelines in pre-election matters.
With the Court of Appeal’s verdict, Governor Oyebanji remains the duly recognized APC governorship candidate, while attention now shifts to the forthcoming governorship election and the campaigns of the participating political parties.
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