Loyalists of the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, have initiated a legal battle against the party’s National Working Committee and the Independent National Electoral Commission over the outcome of the National Assembly primaries conducted ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The aggrieved aspirants have engaged the law firm of Remi Olatubora (SAN) to challenge the outcome of the primaries and the list of candidates submitted by the APC to INEC.
The development is coming 48 after a Federal High Court in Abuja directed the APC and INEC to maintain the status quo in the dispute over candidates that emerged from the Benue State primaries.
Justice I. E. Ekwo issued the order while hearing Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026 filed by aggrieved APC aspirants from the state.
With the development signalling the growing discontent within the ruling party as governors’ preferred aspirants failed to secure tickets during the recently concluded primaries, multiple party sources confirmed that Aiyedatiwa allegedly directed the affected aspirants to seek judicial redress after they lost the party’s tickets despite being regarded as his preferred candidates.
Those involved include Gbenga Elegbeleye for Ondo North Senatorial District; Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti for Ondo Central Senatorial District; Leke Akingboye for Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency; Rasaq Obe for Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency; Kayode Ijalana for Owo/Ose Federal Constituency; Oyerinmade Matthew for Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency; and Olumuyiwa Daramola for Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency.
The plaintiffs are challenging what they described as attempts by the APC to alter the list of candidates that emerged from the primaries conducted in the state and monitored by INEC.
They had sought interim orders restraining the APC from substituting candidates it claimed were validly nominated through June 29, 2026, correspondence or any subsequent communication to INEC pending the determination of the substantive suit
