Court Dismisses Senator Jimoh Ibrahim’s Suit Challenging Aiyedatiwa as Ondo APC Gubernatorial Candidate

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim challenging the candidacy of Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State.

The suit, which primarily contested the conduct of the primary election that selected Aiyedatiwa for the upcoming gubernatorial poll, was struck out following its withdrawal by Senator Ibrahim.

On Tuesday, May 14, Justice Ekwo had directed the APC, Aiyedatiwa, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to submit their defenses in the case seeking to disqualify Aiyedatiwa as the APC candidate for the November 2024 election.

However, during Wednesday’s proceedings, Ibrahim’s lawyer, Mike Uche, informed the court that his client had decided to withdraw the suit. He stated that the withdrawal notice, dated May 27 and filed on May 28, had been served on the defendants as required.

Lawyers representing the defendants confirmed receipt of the withdrawal notice and did not oppose it.

Justice Ekwo dismissed the suit in its entirety, noting that the parties had already engaged with the issues before the withdrawal.