Just In: Court Dismisses Oyedemi’s Suit, Affirms Skimeh as APC Candidate for Oyo Federal Constituency

The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has dismissed a suit filed by Wakil Oyeleru Oyedemi challenging the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives primary for Oyo Federal Constituency, affirming Hon. Akeem Adeyemi, popularly known as Skimeh, as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The judgment brings a legal challenge to Adeyemi’s emergence as the APC candidate for Afijio, Atiba, Oyo East and Oyo West Federal Constituency to a close.

Oyedemi had approached the court seeking an order to nullify the party’s primary, alleging that the exercise was conducted in violation of the Electoral Act 2026 and the APC’s guidelines.

The suit, marked FHC/IB/CS/64/2026, listed the APC, Adeyemi and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the first, second and third defendants, respectively.

At the hearing on August 31, 2026, counsel to the plaintiff, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Musibau Adetunbi, argued that accreditation was not conducted in some wards across the four local government areas covered by the federal constituency.

However, counsel to the APC, Ibrahim Bawa (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the plaintiff’s originating summons was incompetent.

Similarly, Adeyemi’s counsel, Kazeem Adedeji, urged the court to reject the case, maintaining that an indirect primary had been conducted in accordance with the party’s procedures.

INEC’s counsel, A.F. Lawal, also aligned with the APC’s position, urging the court to dismiss the suit.

With the dismissal of the case, Adeyemi’s emergence as the APC candidate for Oyo Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections has received judicial affirmation, subject to any further legal proceedings.

The development is expected to strengthen the party’s preparations for the forthcoming elections across Afijio, Atiba, Oyo East and Oyo West Local Government Areas.