A governorship aspirant under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs. Abimbola Olajumoke Olawunmi, has dragged the party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging what she described as her unlawful and unconstitutional disqualification from participating in the party’s screening exercise for the forthcoming Ekiti State Governorship Election.
In the suit filed on October 20, 2025, and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/221/2025, the claimant is asking the court to declare that her disqualification by the APC during the screening held on September 24, 2025, at Amor Hotel, Abuja, was illegal, null, and void. She contends that the action of the party was done in total disregard for the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, the APC Constitution, and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
According to court documents obtained by our correspondent, Mrs. Olawunmi, through her counsel, O.A. Olawuyi of Palms & Cedar Solicitors, argued that her disqualification was carried out arbitrarily and without compliance with due process. She maintained that as a bona fide member of the All Progressives Congress, her rights as an aspirant were violated when the party failed to adhere to the clear provisions of Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act, 2022. That section provides that any aspirant who complains of non-compliance with the Act or party guidelines during the nomination process may seek redress at the High Court.
The claimant insisted that the procedure adopted by the APC was inconsistent with the principles of fair hearing and justice. She accused the party of adopting a process that was contrary to its constitution and the Electoral Act, thereby rendering her disqualification unlawful. The matter, according to her, falls squarely within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, which is empowered to determine all pre-election disputes relating to the nomination of candidates by political parties.
Mrs. Olawunmi is therefore seeking several reliefs, including a declaration that her disqualification is unconstitutional and of no effect. She is also asking the court to set aside the said disqualification and to declare her eligible to participate in the APC primary election for the Ekiti State Governorship poll. In addition, she is praying for an injunction restraining the APC from conducting the primary election or excluding her from participation pending the determination of the suit.
The case was filed through her counsel, O.A. Olawuyi, a Notary Public based in Abuja. The All Progressives Congress, with its national headquarters at 40 Blantyre Street, Wuse II, Abuja, is listed as the first defendant, while the Independent National Electoral Commission, located at Plot 436, Zambezi Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, is the second defendant. The originating summons was supported by an affidavit sworn to by Mrs. Abimbola Olajumoke Olawunmi herself.
The defendants have been directed to enter an appearance within eight days of being served with the summons, failing which the court may proceed to determine the matter in their absence. The case raises significant questions about internal party democracy and the extent to which political parties must adhere to statutory guidelines and constitutional provisions in their candidate selection processes.
Legal observers believe that the outcome of this case could set a vital precedent for pre-election matters ahead of the 2026 Ekiti Governorship Election. It is also expected to further clarify the powers of political parties vis-à-vis the oversight role of the courts in ensuring fairness, transparency, and adherence to the law in Nigeria’s democratic process.
