A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, declared as null and void actions taken by the defunct Mai Mala Buni-led caretaker committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The court, consequently, nullified the nomination of Governor Gboyega Oyetola and his deputy, Benedict Alabi, as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the APC on the grounds that the submission of their names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by Governor Mai Mala Buni violated the provisions of Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
Already, one of the counsels for Oyetola has, predictably, indicated that his team had commenced the process of filing a notice of appeal on the matter.
On April 7, 2022, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had through its counsel, Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, commenced a suit at the Federal High Court challenging the nomination and sponsorship of Governor Oyetola and his deputy as the duly nominated candidates of the APC on the basis that Mai Mala Buni’s leadership of the party which organised their nomination was illegal.
In challenging the competence of the suit, Mr. Kunle Adegoke (SAN), who represented Oyetola, contended, among other grounds, that the plaintiff did not have the locus standi to commence the action, adding that the suit was statute-barred.