Ondo Guber: Labour Party Candidate Reinstated by INEC Following Appeal Court Ruling

INEC complies with an Appeal Court ruling, reinstating the Labour Party’s governorship candidate for the Ondo State election. 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has restored Olorunfemi Festus as the Labour Party’s candidate for the 2024 governorship election in Ondo State, following a recent Court of Appeal ruling.

The commission announced this development in a statement released on their official X account on Friday.

The reinstatement comes after the Court of Appeal reversed a decision by the Federal High Court, which had previously mandated INEC to acknowledge Olusola Ebiseni as the Labour Party’s candidate.

On September 27, 2024, the Federal High Court instructed INEC to replace Festus with Ebiseni for the governorship election. Unhappy with this decision, the Labour Party filed an appeal. Consequently, in case number CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024, the Court of Appeal ruled that the Federal High Court did not have jurisdiction to make its initial ruling.

Consequently, INEC revised its records to officially reinstate Festus as the Labour Party candidate. His information has also been made available on the commission’s website for public viewing.

READ ALSO: Appeal Court Disqualifies Ondo Labour Party Governorship Candidate Days Before Election

In its announcement, INEC stated:

Yesterday, on 14th November 2024, the commission received the Certified True Copy of the Court of Appeal’s judgment that overturned the decision made by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

In the case numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/1105/2024, the FHC directed on September 27th, 2024, that Olusola Ebiseni be recognized by the commission as the Labour Party candidate for the Ondo State Governorship election in 2024.

In the appeal identified by reference number CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024, filed by the Labour Party, the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed the Federal High Court’s judgment due to lack of jurisdiction.

Complying with the court order, the commission has reinstated Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus as the Labour Party candidate for the 2024 Ondo State governorship election and updated this information on our website for public access.