Politics
BREAKING: Court Orders INEC To Recognize Labour Party Candidates for Ondo Governorship
By Benjamin Abioye
The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognize Chief Olusola Nehemiah and Ezekiel Awude as the Labour Party official governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the Ondo State election.
The court ruled that Nehemiah and Awude should be given all the rights and privileges of legitimate candidates for the upcoming November 16 Ondo State gubernatorial poll.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued this ruling on Friday in Abuja while delivering a judgment on a case filed by the Labour Party, along with Nehemiah and Awude, against INEC and others. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1105/2024, challenged the rejection of Nehemiah and Awude as Labour Party candidates.
In his decision, Justice Nwite declared that the second primary election conducted by the Labour Party, which produced Nehemiah and Awude, was valid and should be accepted by INEC. He pointed out that there was clear evidence showing Nehemiah paid N20 million into the United Bank for Africa (UBA) account of the Labour Party for the nomination form and received the form to participate in the second primary.
Additionally, the judge noted that Nehemiah was asked by the Labour Party to pay N5 million to a certain Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus at Guarantee Trust Bank. This payment was made to cover the withdrawal expenses of Festus from the gubernatorial race.
Justice Nwite criticized the Labour Party leaders under Julius Abure for disowning the second primary election, even after Nehemiah fulfilled all the necessary requirements. He stated that the decision of the party leaders to reject the outcome of the primary was both wrong and illegal.
The court, therefore, ordered INEC to accept the nomination of Nehemiah and Awude and to publish their names as the official Labour Party candidates for the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for November 16.
Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact
And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG
