A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognize Olusola Nehemiah and Ezekiel Awude as the Labour Party’s Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates for the upcoming Ondo State Governorship Election.
Justice Emeka Nwite delivered this ruling on Thursday, following a suit filed by Nehemiah and Awude against INEC and others.
The case was centered around a second primary election conducted by the Labour Party, which produced the duo as candidates.
Justice Nwite ruled that the second primary election was valid and met all the required conditions. He also criticized the Labour Party’s leadership, under Julius Abure, for disowning the results of the fresh primary election.
The court confirmed that Nehemiah had paid the required N20 million for the nomination form and provided evidence that he made an additional payment of N5 million to Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus as part of the withdrawal arrangements.
“It was wrong and illegal for the Julius Abure-led Labour Party to disown the fresh primary election that produced Nehemiah and Awude, having met all conditions precedent,” Justice Nwite said.
The court ordered INEC to accept Nehemiah and Awude’s candidacy and to publish their names as the Labour Party’s official candidates for the Ondo State Governorship election, scheduled for November 16, 2024.
