The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which declared Abdulghani Rotimi Arobo as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency.
The commission’s appeal followed the judgment delivered by Justice Peter O. Lifu on August 5, 2026, in which the court declared Arobo the winner of the APC primary election and consequently recognised him as the party’s candidate for the constituency.
The development has kept the legal battle over the APC ticket alive, with Hon Timehin Adelegbe continuing to be recognised by INEC pending the determination of the appeal.
The appeal seeks a review of the judgment and the issues surrounding the primary election result relied upon by the Federal High Court in declaring Arobo the winner.
A senior source familiar with the development disclosed that the commission had commenced the necessary legal process to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
The source said the appeal was aimed at resolving the legal issues arising from the Federal High Court judgment and determining the valid candidate to be recognised for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency.
The APC had earlier notified INEC of its decision to challenge the judgment and filed a Motion for Stay of Execution pending the determination of the appeal.
In a letter dated August 6, 2026, signed by A.G. Yirvoms Ayuba of Sozo Attorneys, the party informed the INEC Chairman that it had filed a Notice of Appeal against the judgment and sought an order staying its execution.
The party also urged INEC to maintain the status quo and refrain from taking any action capable of prejudicing the appellate proceedings.
The APC had argued that there were issues surrounding the primary election results relied upon by the court in declaring Arobo the winner.
A party source said the APC was reviewing the result, which credited Arobo with 7,959 votes in Owo Local Government Area and 2,583 votes in Ose Local Government Area.
The source said the party was particularly concerned about the origin and authenticity of the result sheet tendered before the court and whether it formed part of the party’s official records.
“There are questions regarding the source of the result sheet and the circumstances under which it emerged,” the source said.
Justice Lifu had, in his judgment, ruled that Arobo won the APC primary election for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency and consequently declared him the party’s candidate.
With the matter now before the Court of Appeal, the final determination of the legal dispute is expected to settle the controversy over the APC ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
