ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has declared Abdulghani Arobo the valid candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the Owo/Ose Federal Constituency election in Ondo State.

In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, Justice Peter Lifu ruled that Arobo lawfully won the APC primary election conducted on May 16, 2026.

The court held that Arobo secured 7,959 votes in Owo Local Government Area and 2,583 votes in Ose Local Government Area, bringing his total to 10,542 votes.

Justice Lifu consequently set aside the nomination of the serving lawmaker, Oluwatimehin Adelegbe, as the party’s candidate, ruling that the decision to submit his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission was not supported by the outcome of the primary election.

The court ordered the APC and INEC to recognise Arobo as the party’s candidate for the constituency. It also directed the electoral commission to reopen its portal and upload his name.

The ruling concerns the APC ticket for the forthcoming election and does not remove Adelegbe from his current position in the House of Representatives.

There was no immediate confirmation on whether Adelegbe or the APC would appeal the judgment.