2027: Court Gives INEC 48 Hours To Upload Candidate Substituted By APC

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has declared Barrister Ghani Arobo as the lawful candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to upload his name to its nomination portal within 48 hours.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Peter Lifu held that Arobo validly won the APC primary election and ruled that the party’s subsequent substitution of his name with another aspirant was irregular, unlawful, and of no legal effect.

The APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) had previously declared Emmanuel Adelegbe as the party’s candidate for the constituency instead of Arobo. However, the court found that the APC failed to submit a lawful return from the primary election, describing the evidence presented by the party as inconsistent and unreliable.

Justice Lifu added that the APC acted as a “tainted witness” in the matter.

In contrast, the judge described the evidence presented by Arobo and INEC—which monitored the primary election—as credible, consistent, and unshaken.

Consequently, the judge directed INEC to act without delay and upload Barr. Ghani Arobo’s name as the official APC candidate for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency within the court-prescribed 48 hours.

Reacting to the judgment, Arobo expressed appreciation to the judiciary for upholding the rule of law and reaffirmed his commitment to running an issue-based campaign focused on unity and development across the constituency.

He also urged INEC to comply promptly with the court’s directive to prevent further disruption to the electoral process.

“We also call on the APC, its agents, and all political actors to accept the court’s ruling, refrain from actions that could escalate tensions, and work towards a transparent and credible electoral process that reflects the genuine choice of the people,” Arobo stated.

The judgment is expected to have significant implications for the APC’s preparations for the upcoming election in the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, as it underscores the importance of internal party democracy and adherence to due process in candidate nomination.