Julius OkorieLabour Party in Ondo State has insisted that their candidate in Saturday’s Gubernatorial election, Chief Olusola Ebiseni is still in the race, describing his purported disqualification as false and an attempt to force the party out of contention through the back doors.
Ondo Labour Party Chairperson, Mrs. Remilekun Ojo, who made the submission, dismissed the disqualification claims, asserting that internal resolutions had already addressed these issues before the court’s ruling.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe report of Ebiseni’s disqualification was triggered by a judgment by the Abuja Division of the Appeal Court, which on Wednesday allegedly disqualified Ebiseni as the Labour Party’s candidate.
The three-judge panel, led by Justice Hamma Barka with a ruling delivered by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, ruled on an appeal marked CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024, stating that “the appeal brought by the Labour Party against Chief Olusola Ebiseni and two others is allowed.”
Previously, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja had ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise Olusola Ebiseni and Ezekiel Awude as the Labour Party’s governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the election.
Justice Nwite asserted that the second primary election, which selected Ebiseni and Awude, was valid and mandated INEC to uphold it.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite highlighted that Ebiseni paid ₦20 million for his nomination form and was officially issued the form, which led to the second primary election.
Additionally, he noted that the Labour Party had instructed Ebiseni to pay ₦5 million to Festus Olorunfemi as compensation for withdrawing from the race, further affirming Ebiseni’s legitimacy as a candidate.
Consequently, Justice Nwite ordered INEC to recognise and publish Ebiseni and Awude’s names as the Labour Party’s official candidates for the November 16 election.
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Mrs. Ojo while condemning the spread of false news aimed at boxing the party into a corner, accused other parties of deliberately stirring up confusion because they see Labour party as a huge threat ahead of Saturday’s election.
Although 18 political parties are locking horns in Saturday’s election in Ondo State, three major parties like the last Edo State elections are at the forefront of the contest namely incumbent Governor and candidate of All Progressives Party, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Agboola Ajayi and Labour party candidate, Olusola Ebiseni.
List Of Political Parties In The Race For Tomorrow’s Election In Ondo State
*Falaiye Abraham Ajibola – A
*Akinuli Fred Omolere – AA
*Ajayi Adekunle Oluwaseyi – AAC
*Nejo Adeyemi – ADC
*Akinnodi Ayodeji Emmanuel – ADP
*Aiyedatiwa Lucky Orimisan – APC
*Popoola Olatunji Tunde – APGA
*Ogunfeyimi Isaac Kolawole – APM
*Fadoju Amos Babatunde – APP
*Ebiseni Olusola Nehemiah – LP
*Olugbemiga Omogbemi Edema – NNPP
*Ajaunoko Funmilayo Jenyo – NRM
*Ajayi Alfred Agboola – PDP
*Alli Babatunde Francis – PRP
*Akingboye Benson Bamidele – SDP
*Adegoke Kehinde Paul – YP
*Akinmurele John Otitoloju – YPP
*Mimiko Olubansile Abbas – ZLP
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
