Ekiti 2026:Court Upholds Oyebanji’s Candidacy, Dismisses Olawunmi’s Suit challenging her Disqualification

In a decisive legal victory for Ekiti State Governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Biodun Oyebanji, the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the suit filed by Abimbola Olajumoke Olawunmi challenging her disqualification from last year’s Governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The judgment, delivered in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/2221/2025, effectively cleared the legal hurdles for Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, affirming his nomination as the party’s candidate for the Ekiti State Governorship election. The plaintiff had sought to contest her disqualification during the party’s screening exercise, naming the APC, INEC, and Governor Oyebanji as defendants.

The presiding judge, Hon Justice Peter Lifu, dismissed the case on two primary grounds. First, the court reaffirmed that the selection and nomination of candidates are strictly internal affairs of a political party. The court noted that a political party maintains the sole prerogative to determine the eligibility of its members, and the judiciary lacks the jurisdiction to interfere in such domestic matters.

Secondly, the court ruled that the plaintiff failed to file the case within the strict timeframe required by the Electoral Act, 2022. Because the suit was not initiated within the mandatory period for pre-election matters, it was deemed statute-barred.

The proceedings featured a robust legal presence, including Barr. Bashiru Ajibola for the APC, Adetunji Oso, (SAN), Tamunotonye Ekundayo (Esq) and Umar Abdulhameed for Governor Oyebanji, and Nanyak Janfa Esq. for INEC.

With the court declaring the case closed, the candidacy of Governor Oyebanji remains valid and undisputed. The ruling reinforces the legal principle that internal party grievances must be resolved within the party’s own framework and must strictly adhere to statutory filing deadlines.