Three days to November 16, 2024 governorship election in Ondo State, the Court of Appeal Abuja division has removed Olusola Nehemiah Ebiseni as the governorship candidature of the Labour Party (LP) in the State.
Abuja division
In the lead judgment prepared by Justice Hamma Barka but read by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, that turned out to be unanimous, a three man panel simply held that “the appeal marked CA /ABJ/CV/1172/2024 brought by the Labour Party against Chief Olusola Nehemiah Ebiseni and 2othrr Abuja division is allowed”.
Her brother justice on the panel, Justice Abba Mohammed in his contributory Judgment equally allowed the appeal for being meritorious.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja division had in his Judgment that went on appeal, had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept and recognize Olusola Nehemiah Ebiseni and Ezekiel Awude as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the Labour Party for the November 16 scheduled election in Ondo State.
Justice Emeka Nwite gave the order while delivering judgement in a suit filed by the duo of Nehemiah and Awude, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1105/2024 between the Labour Party and six others vs. INEC.
The judge held that the second primary election held by the Labour Party, which produced Nehemiah and Awude, was valid and must be upheld by the electoral body.
Justice Nwite said there was evidence that Mr. Nehemiah paid the sum of N20 million for the nomination form and was duly issued a form that led to the conduct of the second primary election.
He also held that there was evidence that the Labour Party ordered Nehemiah to pay the sum of N5 million to one Festus Olorunfemi as expenses upon his withdrawal from the governorship race.
Justice Nwite therefore ordered INEC to accept the nomination of Nehemiah and Awude and publish their names as lawful candidates of the Labour Party for the Ondo state governorship election slated for November 16.