A lawsuit filed by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim to challenge the candidacy of Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as the governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been struck out at a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja
Senator Ibrahim’s suit primarily contested the legitimacy of the primary election that selected Aiyedatiwa as the APC candidate for the upcoming gubernatorial election. The case was dramatically withdrawn by Ibrahim, leading to its dismissal.
Earlier on Tuesday, May 14, Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo had directed the APC, Aiyedatiwa, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to submit their defenses regarding the suit that sought Aiyedatiwa’s removal as the APC candidate for the November 2024 election.
However, during Wednesday’s court session, Ibrahim’s lawyer, Mike Uche, informed the court of his client’s decision to withdraw from the case. Uche stated, “The withdrawal notice dated May 27 but filed on May 28 has been served on the defendants as required.”
The defense lawyers representing the APC, Aiyedatiwa, and INEC confirmed they had received the withdrawal notice and did not oppose it.
As a result, Justice Ekwo dismissed the suit entirely, noting that the parties had already engaged in the matter before the withdrawal. This conclusion brings an end to the legal challenge against Aiyedatiwa’s candidacy for the upcoming gubernatorial election.
