Court declares Arobo APC candidate for Owo/Ose Reps seat

A Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed Abdulghani Arobo as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency House of Representatives seat in Ondo State.

Arobo had filed a suit against the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the party’s primary election conducted on May 16, 2026.

In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Peter Lifu ruled that Arobo lawfully won the APC primary after securing the highest number of valid votes cast during the exercise.

“Upon the summation of all the votes cast at the 23 wards in Owo/Ose Federal Constituency in Ondo State during the APC primary election held on May 16, 2026, Arobo is entitled to be declared lawful winner and nominated to INEC as APC’s candidate for the House of Representatives for Owo/Ose Federal Constituency of Ondo State in the forthcoming general elections,” the court held.

The court ordered the APC and INEC to recognise and deal only with Arobo as the valid winner of the primary election, having polled 7,959 votes in Owo Local Government Area and 2,583 votes in Ose Local Government Area.

Justice Lifu also nullified any other declaration or nomination made by the APC in respect of the constituency, apart from that of the plaintiff.

The judge held that all five issues raised by Arobo for determination were resolved in his favour.

The court further directed the APC to forward Arobo’s name to INEC as its candidate for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency House of Representatives election.

It also restrained the APC and INEC from recognising or dealing with any other person as the party’s candidate for the constituency.

In addition, Justice Lifu ordered INEC to reopen its nomination portal to enable the upload of Arobo’s name as the lawful APC candidate for the forthcoming election.