A Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja, Nigeria has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (APC-Ondo) challenging the candidacy of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the April 20 governorship primaries.
The suit was dismissed following a withdrawal notice submitted by Ibrahim’s counsel, Olakunle Lawal.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, presiding over the case, stated that the suit was dismissed as the parties had joined issues and the withdrawal notice, dated May 27 and filed on May 28, was not opposed by the defendants. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/588/2024, named APC, Aiyedatiwa, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
Ibrahim, represented by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, had sought to invalidate the April 20 primaries that selected Aiyedatiwa, claiming non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022, and the party’s guidelines. He requested the court to restrain Aiyedatiwa from presenting himself as the APC candidate for the upcoming November general election in Ondo State and to compel INEC to remove APC and Aiyedatiwa from the list of political parties and candidates.
During the proceedings, APC’s lawyer, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, highlighted that a request had been made to transfer the case to the Akure division of the FHC, questioning the rationale for filing the suit in Abuja. Both Governor Aiyedatiwa’s counsel, Bode Olanipekun, SAN, and INEC’s lawyer, Charles Edosanwan, confirmed this request.
Following the notice of withdrawal, the court acknowledged the defendants’ receipt of the application. Although the defendants did not oppose the withdrawal, Edosanwan requested the court to strike out the matter.
