Di Supreme Court don finally put stamp for Governor Abiodun Oyebanji candidacy for di June 18 Ekiti governorship election. Di apex court panel of five justices, on Friday, unanimous say di appeal wey one aggrieved APC aspirant, Mrs. Abimbola Olawumi, bring no get merit and dem don throw am comot.
Justice Mohammed Idris, wey write di lead judgment, tok say di appeal wey Mrs. Olawumi file no dey correct for competence. She bin dey question how Oyebanji become di APC candidate, say dem no allow am participate for di party primaries. But di Supreme Court say di reliefs wey she want no fit grant.
Di court also strike out two applications wey di appellant file on July 16 and 23, wey she want use regularise her notice of appeal and argument brief. Justice Idris find say di written address wey accompany di July 16 application no sign, and di pagination pass di number wey Supreme Court rules allow. So dem strike out both applications and di written addresses join.
For di surviving grounds four, five, and six, di Supreme Court say di lower court no make mistake when e hold say Mrs. Olawumi brief no competent, even though she get pending application to regularise am. Di court also uphold di lower court decision wey refuse to use Section 15 of di Court of Appeal Act to hear di original case as first court.
Justice Idris explain say di lower court no fit use Section 15 because di Federal High Court don already say di matter don pass time. And di Supreme Court too no fit use Section 22 of di Supreme Court Act because di 180 days wey constitution give for pre-election cases don expire.
So di Supreme Court don finally settle am: Governor Abiodun Oyebanji remain di APC candidate for di June 18 election. Di case wey Mrs. Olawumi bring don end for dis level.
