By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Independent National Electoral Commission has reinstated Olorunfemi Festus as the Labour Party’s candidate for the 2024 Ondo State governorship election, following a ruling by the Court of Appeal.
INEC revealed this in a statement released on its official X account on Friday.
The decision came after the Court of Appeal in Abuja struck down a judgment by the Federal High Court, which had earlier ordered INEC to accept Olusola Ebiseni as the Labour Party’s candidate.
The Federal High Court, in a ruling delivered on September 27, 2024, had directed INEC to recognise Ebiseni for the upcoming election.
However, the Labour Party appealed the decision, and the Court of Appeal, in its ruling under reference number CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024, determined that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to make such a ruling.
The appellate court’s decision led to the immediate reinstatement of Festus as the party’s candidate.
In compliance with the Court of Appeal’s ruling, INEC has updated its records, restoring Festus as the official Labour Party candidate.
His details have now been published on the commission’s website for public information.
The statement read, “The commission was yesterday, 14th November 2024, served with the Certified True Copy of the judgment of the Court of Appeal which set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division.
“The FHC, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1105/2024 had on 27th September 2024 ordered the commission to accept Olusola Ebiseni as the candidate of the Labour Party for the 2024 Ondo State Governorship election.
“However, in the appeal with reference number CA/ABJ/CV/1172/2024 filed by the Labour Party, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division struck out the judgment of the FHC for lack of jurisdiction.
“In obedience to the court order, the commission has restored Olorunfemi Ayodele Festus, whose name was first published as the Labour Party candidate for the 2024 Ondo State governorship election and uploaded same to our website for public information.”
Punch