Appeal Court dismisses suit challenging Akeredolu’s candidacy

20 Feb Appeal Court dismisses suit challenging Akeredolu’s candidacy

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday affirmed Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State as the valid governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the October 2020 election in the state.

The judgment which upheld an earlier verdict of the Federal High Court in Abuja, came few days to the inauguration of the governor for second term in office on February 24.

Okon Abang, the Federal High Court judge, had earlier on December 16, 2020 dismissed the suit filed by an APC governorship aspirant in the state, Nath Adojutelegan.

The trial judge had held in his judgment that the case was statute-barred as it was not filed within 14 days of the cause of action arising.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, Adojutelegan appealed against the decision, urging the appellate court to grant his prayers by disqualifying Akeredolu as a candidate in the last October election.

But delivering judgment on the appeal on Friday, a three-man panel of the appellate court led by Theresa Orj-Abadua, unanimously dismissed the appeal for lacking in merit.

Ibrahim Adeyangtso, a member of the panel, who prepared the lead judgment, said after considering all the issues raised by parties to the case, the appeal was found to be lacking in substance.

“The appeal is hereby dismissed. I make no order as to cost,” Adeyangsto ruled.

Adojutelegan’s lawyer, Isaac Aderogba, said he could not take the decision on whether or not to appeal to the Supreme Court until the copy of the judgment was released and reviewed with his client.