The Labour Party has called on Nigerians, particularly voters, to disregard rumours suggesting that its candidate, Olusola Ebiseni, has been disqualified.
The reports stem from a recent judgment by the Abuja Division of the Appeal Court, which allegedly disqualified Ebiseni as the Labour Party’s candidate.
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday by a three-judge panel led by Justice Hamma Barka, involved an appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024. The panel ruled in favour of the appeal brought by the Labour Party against Chief Olusola Ebiseni and two others, sparking confusion over Ebiseni’s eligibility.
Previously, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja had ruled in favour of Ebiseni, ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise him and Ezekiel Awude as the Labour Party’s governorship and deputy governorship candidates, respectively.
Justice Nwite had upheld the validity of the second primary election, which saw Ebiseni and Awude emerge as candidates, stating that Ebiseni had paid the required ₦20 million nomination fee and had been issued the appropriate form by the party. He also highlighted that Ebiseni’s payment of ₦5 million to Festus Olorunfemi, who withdrew from the race, further solidified his candidacy. Following the ruling, Justice Nwite ordered INEC to publish their names as the Labour Party’s official candidates for the November 16 election.
However, the Appeal Court’s recent decision has caused confusion, with reports suggesting that Ebiseni’s candidacy has been overturned.
In response, the Ondo State Labour Party Chairperson, Mrs. Remilekun Ojo, dismissed these claims as unfounded. Speaking to Daily Post on Thursday, Ojo clarified that the matters in question had already been resolved internally within the party before the court’s ruling. She denounced the circulating reports as “lies,” and suggested that rival politicians from other parties were behind the misinformation, aiming to create confusion due to the perceived strength of the Labour Party in the upcoming election.
Mrs. Ojo reiterated the party’s readiness for the election, urging the electorate to remain focused on the issues at hand, rather than being swayed by false reports.
