The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reinstated Olorunfemi Festus as the Labour Party’s candidate for the 2024 Ondo State governorship election, following a Court of Appeal ruling.
This decision comes after the appellate court overturned a Federal High Court judgment that had earlier ordered INEC to recognize Olusola Ebiseni as the Labour Party’s candidate.
On September 27, 2024, the Federal High Court had ruled that INEC should accept Ebiseni as the candidate for the election.
However, the Labour Party appealed the decision, and the Court of Appeal, in its ruling on November 14, 2024, declared that the Federal High Court did not have jurisdiction in the matter.
The court’s decision led to the reinstatement of Festus, whose name was initially published by INEC as the party’s official candidate.
In compliance with the Court of Appeal’s ruling, INEC updated its records and published Festus’ details on its official website.
A statement from the commission confirmed that the Certified True Copy of the judgment was served to INEC on November 14, 2024, confirming the appellate court’s decision.
The statement read, “The commission was served with the Certified True Copy of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court. As a result, we have restored Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus as the Labour Party’s candidate for the 2024 Ondo State governorship election.”
Festus’ name is now listed on INEC’s website as the party’s candidate for the upcoming election.
