Court Orders INEC to Accept Labour Party Candidates for Ondo Governorship Election

In a significant development, a Federal High Court sitting in Akure has directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to accept and publish the names of Labour Party (LP) candidates for the upcoming Ondo State governorship election scheduled for November 16, 2024.

The court ruling came in response to a suit filed by the LP, challenging INEC's refusal to accept and publish the names of its candidates, including Dr. Ayo Olorunfemi as the governorship candidate and his running mate, Mrs. Olubunmi Adeleye.

In the judgment delivered by Justice Babs Kuewumi, the court held that INEC acted ultra vires (beyond its powers) by refusing to accept and publish the names of the LP candidates, as submitted by the party's National Working Committee (NWC).

The judge further ordered INEC to immediately publish the names of the LP candidates in its official gazette and on its website, in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the INEC guidelines for the 2024 Ondo State governorship election.

This court ruling is expected to put to rest the ongoing controversy surrounding the Labour Party's candidates for the Ondo governorship election, as INEC is now legally bound to recognize and publish their names.