Loyalists of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State have initiated a legal battle against the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee (NWC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the outcome of the National Assembly primaries conducted ahead of the 2027 general election.

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 comes 48 hours after a Federal High Court in Abuja directed the APC and INEC to maintain the status quo in the dispute over candidates who 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 growing discontent within the ruling party after 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 who emerged from the primaries conducted in the state and monitored by INEC.

They are seeking interim orders restraining the APC from substituting candidates it claimed were validly nominated through its June 29, 2026, correspondence or any subsequent communication to INEC pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Meanwhile, party insiders have warned that the lawsuits, if successful, could affect the APC’s preparations for the 2027 general election, potentially forcing a rerun of the primaries or altering the party’s list of candidates in key constituencies.

A party chieftain in Abuja, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly on the matter, criticised the decision to challenge the outcome of the primaries in court.

“It is disheartening that Governor Aiyedatiwa, who once benefited from the support of the party leadership, particularly President Bola Tinubu, would now encourage his loyalists, who lost the party tickets, to seek judicial intervention.

“No election is perfect. Even elections in America are not perfect. Was the primary that produced him as the APC governorship candidate in 2024 perfect? We are aware that it took the intervention of President Tinubu before Senator Jimoh Ibrahim withdrew his court case challenging the outcome of that primary.

But in Aiyedatiwa’s case, he wants to rock the boat simply because he did not have his way. Is he truly acting in the interest of the party? He must understand that in politics, one cannot always have one’s way. Since the APC was formed, not every decision taken by the party has favoured President Tinubu.

“It is unfortunate that a governor who has benefited immensely from the national leadership of the party, from the period of his impeachment crisis to his emergence as the governorship candidate, is now encouraging actions that could undermine the party because his preferred aspirants failed to secure the tickets,” the source said. (The Guardian)

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