Akure, Nigeria – The Federal High Court sitting in Akure has reserved judgment in the case challenging the validity of the 2024 Ondo State Governorship Election.
The Labour Party, alongside two others, filed suit no. FHC/AK/CS/65/2024 against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), arguing that the electoral process was fundamentally flawed due to INEC’s failure to adhere to Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The plaintiffs contended that INEC did not publish the names and addresses of nominated candidates after the close of nominations on 17th June 2024, as mandated by law. Instead, INEC reportedly released a “final list of candidates” on 13th June 2024, prior to the nomination deadline, raising concerns over the validity of the process.
Citing Section 32 of the Electoral Act, the Labour Party maintained that non-compliance rendered the entire electoral process and the subsequent election invalid. Legal analysts following the case believe that the court may declare the election void, given INEC’s inability to justify its lapses.
In a related statement, the Labour Party (per 2014) distanced itself from groups allegedly meeting with Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa to praise the election’s outcome.
The party asserted that any such groups may be factions unaffiliated with its current leadership, referring to them as the “Gbajue Labour Party” and alleging ties to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Prince Prof. Ifagbemi Awamaridi, reiterated the party’s commitment to pursuing justice, describing the legal battle as the beginning of the fight for “Alagbaka.”