Osun guber: Oyetola appeals judgment nullifying his candidacy

Gboyega Oyetola, governor of Osun, has appealed the nullification of his nomination as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the July 16, 2022 governorship election in the state.

Last week, a federal high court in Abuja nullified the nomination of Oyetola and his deputy, Benedict Alabi, as candidates of the APC.

However, in a statement on Wednesday, Ismail Omipidan, chief press secretary to the governor, said Oyetola and his deputy had filed an application before the federal high court in Abuja, seeking to stay execution of the court’s judgment pending the final determination of the appeal.

According to the statement, Oyetola and Alabi listed 19 grounds of appeal against the lower court’s judgment.

The appellants described the judgment as a miscarriage of justice and, therefore, urged the court of appeal to set aside the ruling and affirm their nominations as valid and lawful.

The governor and his deputy argued that all the actions taken by Mai Mala Buni in respect of their nominations were valid and legally recognisable, saying they complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the 1999 constitution.

“By the provision of Section 84(14) of the Electoral Act 2022, it is only an aspirant that participated in the primary election that can complain that the provision of the Electoral Act and the guidelines of the political party have not been complied with in the selection or nomination of candidate of a political party for an election,” the statement reads.

“The issue of nomination and sponsorship of candidates of a political party is strictly an internal affair of a political party which is not justiciable.

“The 1st respondent (the PDP), therefore, lacks the locus standi to bring any cause of action that relates to internal affairs of the appellant (APC).”