Ogun: Court Nullifies Abiodun Akinlade’s Emergence as APC Reps Candidate

A Federal High Court sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has nullified the candidacy of a three-time House of Representatives member, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade.

Akinlade is the 2023 House of Representatives candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency.

He had occupied the position for 12 years, from 2003 to 2015.

Ahead of the 2023 elections, Akinlade obtained a nomination form, contesting for the Ogun West senatorial ticket of the APC.

But, the party leadership in Ogun State had compelled him to settle for the House of Representatives ticket, asking him to step down for Lagos West Senator, Olamilekan Adeola. https://dailypost.ng/2022/05/28/ogun-west-how-isiaka-akinlade-withdrew-from-race-for-apc-ticket-with-lagos-senator-adeola/

Dissatisfied, another contestant, Michael Adebayo Adeleke had dragged the APC, Akinlade and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Federal High Court.

In her judgment on Thursday, Justice O. O. Oguntoyinbo, declared the nomination of Akinlade as “irregular, null and void.”

The Judge held that Akinlade never paid for an expression of interest form, neither was he screened by the APC within the time prescribed by the party in respect of the National Assembly primary election.

Therefore, Oguntoyinbo ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary election within 40 days to select and nominate another candidate for Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency ahead of the 2023 polls.

The court also barred Akinlade from further participating in the new primary election.