Judiciary
Ekiti APC ticket: Court dismisses Babalotin’s suit against Okoro, labels him busybody
The Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday dismissed the suit challenging the candidacy of Engr. Toyin Okoro for Ekiti South Federal Constituency 1.
Justice Babs O. Keuwumi, in his judgment on Suit No: FHC/AD/CS/19/2026 filed by Bayo Babalotin, held that the plaintiff lacked locus standi to institute the action.
The judge said it was audacious for Babalotin to challenge an All Progressives Congress, APC primary election in which he was not an aspirant.
The court also struck out the Ekiti State APC as 3rd defendant, noting that the order covers both the state chapter and the national body of the party.
Counsel to Okoro, Dr. Femi Ogunlade Esq., described the judgment as victory for due process.
“The court delivered judgment in favour of the 1st defendant, dismissing the suit and affirming that only an aspirant can contest the conduct and validity of a primary election, not an interloper or a busybody, which the plaintiff is,” he said.
Ogunlade said the ruling aligns with Section 25 of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, which provides that only a participant in a primary can challenge its outcome.
It would be recalled that incumbent Rep, retired Air Vice Marshal Adeniyi Ojuawo, lost the APC primary to Okoro who polled 9,798 votes against the former’s 1,842 votes.
Following the loss, Okoro had advised Ojuawo to accept defeat in good faith.
The suit came on the heels of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other offences related Commission, ICPC interrogation of Okoro over alleged public service rule violation bordering on operating a private company to secure public contracts while serving as a senior legislative aide.