BREAKING NEWS: Court Dismisses Suit Seeking to Disqualify APC Candidate Oyebamiji Over Alleged Certificate Forgery

BREAKING NEWS: Court Dismisses Suit Seeking to Disqualify APC Candidate Oyebamiji Over Alleged Certificate Forgery

A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP) seeking the disqualification of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), ahead of the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election.

Justice Funmilayo Demi-Ajayi delivered the ruling on Wednesday, throwing out the case which alleged that Oyebamiji was involved in certificate forgery.

The APP had instituted the suit on March 16, 2026, under case number FHC/OS/CS/50/2026, naming the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC, and Oyebamiji as defendants. The party had urged the court to declare the APC candidate ineligible to contest the upcoming governorship election.

However, the court ruled that the APP lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to challenge the APC candidate since it did not participate in the APC primary election that produced Oyebamiji as the party’s flag bearer.

Justice Demi-Ajayi reportedly described the plaintiff as a “meddlesome interloper,” noting that the party had no direct involvement in the APC's internal nomination process.

Speaking after the judgment, counsel to the APC and Oyebamiji, Barrister Adeoye Galadima, explained that the court first considered the preliminary objections raised by the defense and INEC before addressing the substantive issues in the case.

According to him, the judge agreed with the arguments presented by the defense and held that the APP failed to establish any legal basis for instituting the action.

The court further ruled that the suit disclosed no reasonable cause of action and therefore could not be entertained.

As a result, the preliminary objections filed by the respondents were upheld, leading to the dismissal of the case.

In addition, the court awarded costs of N200,000 against the APP in favour of each respondent, meaning the party is required to pay the amount separately to INEC, the APC, and Oyebamiji.

The judgment is seen as a significant legal victory for the APC governorship candidate as preparations intensify for the August 15, 2026 Osun governorship election.