Ondo Guber Poll: Court Disqualifies Labour Party Candidate Olusola Ebiseni

Summary

The Court of Appeal in Abuja disqualified UA Abisi as the Labor Party’s candidate for the November 2024 governorship election in Ono State. This followed the invalidation of a previous substitution attempt due to non-compliance with Nigeria's Electoral Act. The court found that the required withdrawal letter was not handwritten by the candidate and was improperly submitted. Legal expert Monday Mau discussed the ruling’s implications, emphasizing that the late legal uncertainty is likely to negatively affect the Labor Party’s campaign, creating confusion among voters just days before the election.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Court of Appeal in Abuja disqualified UA Abisi as the Labour Party's candidate for the November 16, 2024, governorship election in Ono State.
• 😀 The Court of Appeal ruled in favor of an appeal brought by the Labour Party, overturning a previous Federal High Court decision that recognized another candidate, Aiseni and Ezekiel Audi.
• 😀 The judgment confirmed that the primary election process in the Labour Party was legally flawed and the substitution of candidates was improper.
• 😀 The court found that the candidate's withdrawal letter was typed and did not meet the legal requirements of a handwritten, signed letter as mandated by the Electoral Act.
• 😀 Section 31 of the Electoral Act requires that for a substitution to be valid, the candidate must personally submit a handwritten letter of withdrawal, which was not done in this case.
• 😀 The ruling highlighted that the letter presented by the Labour Party was not written or signed by the candidate himself, violating the Electoral Act.
• 😀 The disqualification ruling has significant consequences for the Labour Party's strategy ahead of the election, as the campaign faces confusion among voters.
• 😀 The Labour Party now needs to communicate to voters that the candidate previously thought to be disqualified is once again their official candidate.
• 😀 The Labour Party faces a challenging situation with only days remaining before the election, as the party will need to regain voter confidence and clarify the candidate change.
• 😀 The legal decision reaffirms the importance of strictly following electoral processes and highlights the potential impact of procedural errors on a party’s electoral chances.

Q & A

What was the decision made by the Court of Appeal regarding the Labor Party's candidate for the Ono State governorship election?

The Court of Appeal disqualified UA Abisi as the Labor Party's candidate for the November 16, 2024, Ono State governorship election, ruling in favor of an appeal brought by the Labor Party.

What was the initial ruling by the Federal High Court that the Court of Appeal overturned?

The Federal High Court had initially recognized Eiseni and Ezekiel Audi as the Labor Party's candidates, but the Court of Appeal overturned this decision.

Who delivered the lead judgment in the Court of Appeal ruling?

Justice Hamama Bara delivered the lead judgment in the Court of Appeal ruling.

What was the primary legal argument raised by the Labor Party in their appeal?

The Labor Party argued that the process of candidate substitution did not comply with the provisions of Section 31 of the Electoral Act, particularly the requirement for a candidate to submit a handwritten letter of voluntary withdrawal.

What does Section 31 of the Electoral Act state regarding candidate substitution?

Section 31 of the Electoral Act requires that for a candidate to be substituted, they must submit a handwritten letter of withdrawal signed by themselves, which must then be submitted to the party's chairman and to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Why did the court find the substitution documents invalid?

The court found the substitution documents invalid because the letter of withdrawal was typed, not handwritten, and it was not signed by the candidate as required by law.

What impact does this ruling have on the Labor Party's strategy for the upcoming election?

The ruling negatively affects the Labor Party’s strategy as it creates confusion among voters with only days remaining until the election, as the initially proposed candidate is now reinstated as the official candidate.

How close is the election, and why is this decision particularly problematic for the Labor Party?

The election is only two days away, making the decision particularly problematic for the Labor Party as they now need to convince voters of the legitimacy of the candidate amidst the confusion caused by the court's decision.

What did the Labor Party's representative, Monday Mau, express regarding the decision?

Monday Mau, a legal practitioner and Labor Party member, expressed that he expected the decision and emphasized that the party had been calling for proper adherence to the law regarding candidate nominations and substitutions.

What does Monday Mau believe will be the long-term effect of the court's decision on the party?

Monday Mau believes that the court’s decision will negatively affect the Labor Party's chances in the election, as it creates unnecessary confusion and disrupts the party's campaign strategy.