The Federal High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, has scheduled Monday, October 26, 2026, for the delivery of a ruling in a case challenging the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket for the Afijio/Atiba/Oyo East/Oyo West Federal Constituency, also known as Oyo Federal Constituency, ahead of the 2027 general elections. The suit, numbered FHC/IB/CS/64/2026, was filed by Wakil Oyeleru Oyedemi against the APC, Akeem Adeyemi, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as first, second, and third defendants, respectively.
Plaintiff's Case: Alleged Violations of Electoral Act
Oyedemi is seeking a court order to nullify the APC House of Representatives primary held for the constituency, arguing that the exercise violated the Electoral Act 2026 and the party's internal guidelines. When the matter was called on Monday, all parties were absent, but they were represented by their legal counsel. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Musibau Adetunbi, appeared for the plaintiff; Ibrahim Bawa (SAN) led the legal team for the APC; Kazeem Adedeji appeared for Akeem Adeyemi; and A.F. Lawal represented INEC.
Adetunbi informed the court that all necessary affidavits and exhibits had been filed. He urged the judge to examine Exhibit INEC 1, submitted by the third defendant, alongside Exhibit A recently filed by the APC, arguing that the signatures on both documents did not belong to the same person. He also cited the case of Adeyemi vs APC, 2025 NWLR, Part 1927, 63, Page 119, to counter the APC's objection that the plaintiff had no right to summon agents. On the issue of waiver, Adetunbi relied on paragraph 15:7 of the second defendant's affidavit, contending that no waiver could arise where there was no accreditation across all local government areas, according to INEC's own records.
Defendants Push for Dismissal of the Suit
Ibrahim Bawa (SAN), counsel to the APC, urged the court to dismiss the originating summons, arguing that the plaintiff filed 39 affidavits without obtaining leave of court, which he said was contrary to the rules governing such special proceedings. He added that the manner in which the matter was conducted ran against both the Evidence Act and the Electoral Act.
Kazeem Adedeji, appearing for the second defendant, said his preliminary objection rested on several grounds consistent with court rules, and asked the court to hold that the plaintiff's case must fail both on the facts and in law. INEC's counsel, A.F. Lawal, aligned his submissions with those of the APC and similarly asked the court to dismiss the originating summons.
Court Adjourns for Ruling
After hearing from all counsel, the presiding judge, Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha, adjourned the matter to Monday, October 26, 2026, for ruling. The outcome of this case will determine the validity of the APC ticket for the Oyo Federal Constituency in the upcoming 2027 elections, with implications for the party's candidate and the electoral process in the constituency.
