Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed immediate past governor of Osun State Gboyega Oyetola and his running mate, Benedict Alabi, as the authentic gubernatorial candidates for the All progressive Congress (APC).
The appeal with no: CA/ABJ/CV/1099/2022 was
between Adegboyega Oyetola & Anor v PDP & Ors.
The court nullified the ruling of the
Federal High Court Abuja by Justice Emeka Nwite on 30th September, which rejected
Oyetola and his Deputy Alabi as APC candidates.
The Court insisted that the decision for
the choice of candidates rest on the shoulders of the party members through
congress and could not be rendered illegal by any party.
Yobe Governor Mai Mala Buni had
submitted the names of the candidates to INEC but the High Court violated the
provisions of Section 183 of the Constitution and Section 82 (3) of the
Electoral Act, 2022.
Justice Nwite, agreed with the submissions
and declared declared Oyetola’s candidature null and void.
The PDP through its counsel, Kehinde
Ogunwumiju, in the suit dragged Buni and four others before the court
challenging the nomination and sponsorship of Oyetola and his running mate as
the right nominated candidates of the APC.
However, on Friday the court reversed its
decision, and also stated that Mai Bala Buni as a Governor has the privilege of
immunity and so cannot be sued.