The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday dismissed Idu Onyiloyi, the Labour Party’s deputy governorship candidate in Benue State. The suit, filed as FHC/ABJ/CS/1853/2022, named the Labour Party, INEC and Onyiloyi as the first, second and third defendants, respectively.
Justice Ekwo, delivering judgment in a case instituted by Ochechi Adejor, held that Onyiloyi had voluntarily withdrawn from the deputy governorship ticket and had affirmed this withdrawal in an affidavit. Consequently, he no longer held the status of candidate.
Based on the evidence that Onyiloyi had formally notified the Labour Party of his withdrawal and had supported it with a court‑affidavit, the judge restored the plaintiff, Dr Ochechi Godwin Adejor, as the party’s deputy governorship candidate. The court ordered that Onyiloyi be prohibited from presenting himself as the Labour Party’s deputy governorship candidate in Benue, and that the party be restrained from recognizing him in that role.
Invoking sections 221 and 222 of the 1999 Constitution and sections 29, 31, 32, 33 and 84 of the Electoral Act 2022, the judge directed the Labour Party to remove Onyiloyi and replace him with Adejor following his voluntary withdrawal. The court also ordered INEC to publish Adejor’s name as the lawful deputy governorship candidate and issued a perpetual injunction preventing INEC from accepting any other name for that position. Finally, Justice Ekwo instructed the Labour Party to promptly forward Dr Ochechi Godwin Adejor’s name to INEC for publication as the duly recognized deputy governorship candidate.
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