The Federal High Court ruled on Friday that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lacked authority to unilaterally disqualify a candidate. The court ordered INEC to publish the name of Adebutu, a candidate in the Ogun 2027 election.
The court’s decision came after INEC had previously disqualified Adebutu from contesting the election. The commission had cited alleged violations of electoral laws as the basis for its action. The ruling clarified that INEC could not act alone in disqualifying candidates without due process.
This case follows a series of disputes over candidate eligibility in recent elections. Adebutu’s legal team had argued that the disqualification was arbitrary and lacked sufficient evidence. The court’s intervention highlights ongoing tensions between electoral bodies and candidates over the interpretation of electoral laws. The decision may set a precedent for future cases involving candidate disqualification.
