Legal Storm Looms Over INEC Candidates as Defection Controversy Deepens

As things stand, it is likely that some of the candidates whose names were published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will soon face litigation.

According to reports, several of the affected candidates had previously contested under one political party before defecting to another party to seek election again.

Critics argue that this violates the Electoral Act governing such situations.

The law in question, which is part of the Electoral Act currently in force, prohibits a candidate who participated in the primary election of one political party from leaving that party to contest the same election under another political party.

Observers say this issue has resurfaced following the publication of INEC’s list of candidates, a development that has generated controversy among politicians.

One of the candidates at the center of the controversy is Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, who had previously sought the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

However, the APC eventually gave its governorship ticket to Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.

Shortly afterward, Iyabo Obasanjo announced that she had left the APC and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, where she was subsequently given the party’s ticket to contest for the Senate. Opponents argue that this move contravenes the Electoral Act.

They contend that since Iyabo Obasanjo did not participate in the PDP’s primary election, it is questionable how INEC could recognize her as the party’s senatorial candidate.

They also point out that Obasanjo herself has repeatedly stated that she was present when Yayi was declared the APC candidate and that she was among the first to congratulate him.

According to them, this indicates that she remained an APC aspirant at the time.

Based on these circumstances, critics argue that there are sufficient grounds to disqualify Iyabo Obasanjo from participating in the forthcoming election because they believe she breached the provisions of the Electoral Act.

A similar issue reportedly involves another candidate identified as Imọlẹayọ, who initially contested the primary election under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) but later appeared on INEC’s published list as the senatorial candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM).

However, a source who spoke on the matter explained that the list released by INEC is not necessarily final. According to the source, some of the candidates may still be removed from the list following successful petitions or court rulings.