APC, INEC, Oyebanji Dragged to Supreme Court as Ekiti Governorship Legal Battle Deepens
The legal dispute arising from the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election has taken a fresh turn as Mrs. Abimbola Olajumoke Olawumi has filed an appeal before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, challenging the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.
Court documents obtained show that the appeal is against the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, who are listed as the first, second and third respondents respectively.
The Notice of Appeal indicates that Mrs. Olawumi is dissatisfied with the June 18, 2026 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed her appeal, allowed the respondents’ cross-appeal and affirmed the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court.
In the appeal filed before the Supreme Court, the appellant argued that the Court of Appeal erred in law by holding that her suit was statute-barred under Section 285(9) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
According to the appeal, the appellate court allegedly relied on February 9, 2026, being the date an amendment was made to the suit, instead of October 21, 2025, which the appellant contends was the original filing date after exhausting the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism.
The appellant maintained that the alleged error resulted in a miscarriage of justice and has asked the Supreme Court to set aside the decision of the Court of Appeal.
Meanwhile, a separate summons issued by the Registrar of the Court of Appeal has invited all parties to appear on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. for the settlement of records to facilitate the transmission of the appeal to the Supreme Court.
The outcome of the proceedings is expected to determine the next phase of the legal contest surrounding the Ekiti governorship dispute, as the nation’s apex court prepares to hear the matter.
SolidStarNews will continue to monitor the case and provide updates as events unfold.
