JUSTICE Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed Idu Onyiloyi, the Labour Party’s deputy governorship candidate in Benue State.
In his place, Justice Ekwo reinstated Ochechi Adejor as the party’s new deputy governorship candidate.
The judge ruled in a petition brought by Adejor that Onyiloyi, having voluntarily resigned as a deputy governorship candidate and submitted an affidavit to that effect, no longer held the same status in law.
Judge Ekwo established as facts that Onyiloyi personally wrote the Labour Party to withdraw his candidacy and provided legal backing for the withdrawal with a court affidavit as evidence of withdrawal.
Citing sections 221, 222 of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 29, 31, 32, 33 and 84 of the Electoral Act 2022, the judge said the party is under obligation to remove Onyiloyi and replace him with Adejor following his voluntary withdrawal.
Judge Ekwo directed that Adejor’s name be forwarded immediately to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for publication as the lawful deputy governorship candidate.
Justice Ekwo further issued an order prohibiting Onyiloyi from further parading himself as the Labour Party’s deputy governorship candidate in Benue State, while the party was barred from recognizing Onyiloyi as its deputy governorship candidate.
