There is palpable tension in the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday, reserved judgment in the two appeals by the party and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola.
After entertaining arguments from lawyers to parties, a three-member panel of the court upheld Justice Emeka Nwite’s verdict.
The APC and Oyetola are among others, praying the appellate court to set aside the September 30, 2022 judgment by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
In his judgment, Justice Nwite voided the nomination of Oyetola and his deputy governorship candidate, Benedict Alabi as APC’s candidates in the election on July 16, 2022.
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Justice Nwite held among others, that Governor Mai Mala Buni (the then Chairman of the APC’s caretaker committee) who submitted their names to INEC, violated the provisions of Section 183 of the Constitution and Section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
The judgment was on the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/468/2022 filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Mala Buni and four others.
Justice Nwite agreed with the submissions of the plaintiff’s lawyer, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN) and declared as null and void, the nomination of Governor Isiaka Oyetola and Benedict Alabi by the APC.
The judge equally held that Mala Buni acted in contravention of the provision of Section 183 of the Constitution when he held dual executive positions as the Governor of Yobe and the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of APC.