Federal High Court Reserves Judgment in Arowele vs APC, Ijalana Suit, Dismisses Adetula Joinder Bid

In a suit filed by Hon. Ayodele Arowele at the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, the disqualified All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant is challenging his disqualification from the party’s House of Representatives primary election and the emergence of Engr. Kayode Ijalana as the winner.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, counsel to the plaintiff, Dr. Olatubura, SAN, told the court that his client was screened out by the APC screening committee without any justifiable reason.

He further argued that the notice of his client’s disqualification was served on the night of the primary election. Dr. Olatubura, SAN, also presented a document which, according to him, showed that Arowele had not been disqualified before the election.

In response, counsel to the third defendant, Engr. Kayode Ijalana, Barr. Oluwarotimi, presented a document which he said showed that the plaintiff had been disqualified five days before the primary election, on May 11, 2026.

Counsel representing the first defendant, the All Progressives Congress, Barr. A. G. Yirvoms, also opposed the plaintiff’s claims, arguing that the party has the authority under its constitution to screen aspirants and determine their eligibility to participate in its primaries.

Barr. Yirvoms maintained that the plaintiff failed to meet the party’s eligibility requirements and presented documents which, according to him, contained the screening results and confirmed the plaintiff’s disqualification.

Counsel representing the second defendant, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), maintained a neutral position and did not advance any additional argument beyond the response already filed before the court.

In a related development, a suit filed by Hon. Adetula Ajibola seeking to join the case was dismissed after his counsel failed to appear before the court. Ajibola had sought to be joined in the proceedings on the basis of his claim that he won the APC primary election.

After hearing submissions from the parties, the presiding judge reserved judgment in Arowele’s suit and stated that a date for its delivery would be communicated to the respective counsel.