Owo/Ose 2027: APC candidate says Appeal Court affirmed people’s will

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Owo/Ose Federal Constituency of Ondo State, Barr. AbdulGhani Rotimi Arobo, has cautioned against attacks on the judiciary following the Court of Appeal judgment affirming his candidacy.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja had unanimously upheld the Federal High Court judgment recognising Arobo as the authentic APC candidate for the constituency.

The appellate court dismissed five appeals filed by Hon. Oluwatimehin Emmanuel Adelegbe, Engr. Kayode Ijalana, Dr. Abiola Oshodi and the APC, resolving the issues in favour of Arobo.

Reacting to comments credited to Adelegbe after the verdict, the Director of Publicity and Public Engagement of the Arobo Campaign Organisation, Ojo Bright Eniafe, warned against portraying the judicial process as a mere game.

In a statement issued in Akure, Eniafe described Adelegbe’s remarks as “not only uncouth, but a profound and reckless attack on the judiciary.”

“Such comments should never emanate from a lawmaker of eight years. It amounts to an outright desecration of the judiciary, the last hope of the common man. A lawmaker of his experience ought to know better,” the statement read.

Eniafe said comments capable of undermining another arm of government, particularly the judiciary, had no place in public discourse, alleging that Adelegbe’s remarks were an attempt to erode the integrity of the courts.

“We understand that the outcome of the appeal may have impacted Hon. Adelegbe negatively. Yet it should come as no surprise. The verdict simply reaffirmed the clear will of the people already expressed on May 16th, 2026.

“While we were campaigning from community to community and building structures from the unit level, those who sat far away awaiting a godfather’s announcement cannot justifiably spew sacrilege on the justice system,” he said.

He stressed that the quest for political power should not lead to desperation that ridicules the courts, insisting that the judiciary was not a commodity but a temple of justice.

“We will explore every available legal avenue open to us under the Constitution and shall refrain from further comment on the substantive matter so as not to prejudice the process.

“But let there be no doubt: the judiciary remains a sacred institution that must be shielded from political shenanigans. It is not a tool to be bullied into submission,” Eniafe added.

He further alleged that Adelegbe neither participated in nor won the May 16 primaries, claiming that he instead held a parallel primary in his ward in Ose Local Government Area.

“How his name ended up with INEC remains the eighth wonder of the world, and its demystification is the solemn duty of the judiciary he seeks to tarnish. The anomaly has been corrected by the lower court and the Court of Appeal for the preservation of law and order and to strengthen our evolving democracy,” he stated.

Eniafe maintained that the mandate given to Arobo by party members across Owo and Ose remained sacred, adding that the campaign was focused on changing the status quo.

“The judiciary will not be desecrated on our watch. History will record those who chose to attack its foundations rather than accept the verdict of the people,” he said.