The Federal High Court has reaffirmed Governor Biodun Oyebanji as the substantive All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2026 Ekiti governorship election.
The Court delivered judgment on Wednesday in a suit challenging Oyabanji’s emergence as the APC candidate for the forthcoming elections.
One of the aspirants, Mrs. Abimbola Olawunmi, last year challenged the party over her disqualification and failure to participate in the governorship primary, which produced Oyebanji as the party’s candidate.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, the court upheld its preliminary objections and ruled that the case was statute-barred, non-justiciable, and lacking in reasonable cause of action.
The court further held that issues relating to party membership and internal processes fall within the exclusive domain of political parties and are not subject to judicial intervention.
It dismissed the suit in favour of the defendants.
Papers News recalls that Governor Oyebanji officially emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State ahead of the June 20, 2026, election.
Oyebanji, who was the sole contender, was unanimously affirmed by 885 delegates, drawn from all 177 wards of the state, in line with the party’s internal guidelines and the Electoral Act 2022.
His emergence followed the withdrawal of Mrs. Atinuke Oluremi Omolayo and the disqualification of Kayode Ojo and Abimbola Olajumoke, who failed to meet the party’s requirements.
Omolayo, who formally stepped down during the governorship primary at the Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Ado-Ekiti, said her decision was driven by Oyebanji’s performance and the need to sustain his administration’s developmental strides.
The APC also affirmed Governor Oyebanji as the party’s consensus candidate for the 2026 governorship election in the state.
Papers News reports that the motion for affirmation was moved by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, and seconded by the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Stephen Aribasoye.
Speaking during the exercise, the Chairman of the Affirmation Congress Committee, Ahmed Ododo, said the decision reflected the governor’s “giant strides in various sectors which have benefitted the people of Ekiti.”
He added that APC remained a disciplined party that had earned the trust of the people through Oyebanji’s leadership style.
Details later…
