Kehinde Fajobi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reinstated Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus as the Labour Party’s candidate for the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election, following an appellate court ruling.
In a statement posted on its X handle on Friday evening, INEC explained that it had received the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Court of Appeal judgement, which nullified an earlier Federal High Court decision in favour of Olusola Ebiseni.
The post read: “The Commission was yesterday, 14th November 2024, served with the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement of the Court of Appeal which set aside the judgement of the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja Division.
“The FHC, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1105/2024, had on 27th September 2024 ordered the Commission to accept Olusola Ebiseni as the candidate of the Labour Party for the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election.
“However, in the appeal with reference number CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024 filed by the Labour Party, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, struck out the judgement of the FHC for lack of jurisdiction.
“In obedience to the court order, the Commission has restored Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus, whose name was first published as the Labour Party candidate for the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election, and uploaded the same to our website for public information.”
The development comes just hours before the governorship election in Ondo State.