Federal High Court Nullifies APC Nomination, Installs Arobo for 2027 Poll

A Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Timehin Adeleye as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency seat in the 2027 House of Representatives election, declaring Abdugani Arobo as the party’s rightful candidate.

Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Wednesday in a suit filed by Arobo against the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Arobo challenged the party’s decision to submit Adeleye’s name to INEC despite claiming victory in the APC primary election.
The court held that the APC failed to make a lawful return from the primary election, noting that the evidence presented by the party contained contradictions. It ruled that Arobo lawfully won the May 16, 2026 primary after polling 7,959 votes in Owo Local Government Area and 2,583 votes in Ose Local Government Area, making him the valid winner of the party’s ticket.
Consequently, the court declared Arobo the only aspirant whose name can legally be submitted to INEC as the APC candidate for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency in the 2027 general election. It also directed the APC to recognise and deal only with Arobo as the winner of the primary, restrained the party from recognising any other candidate, and ordered INEC to reopen its nomination portal to enable the submission of Arobo’s name as the APC’s duly nominated candidate.