The Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Hon Justice Joyce Abdulmalik has dismissed a suit filed by an All Progressives Congress (APC) aspirant, Mr Matthew Oyerinmade, popularly known as MATO, challenging the emergence of Hon. Festus Ayodele Adefiranye as the party’s candidate for the Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo/Odigbo Federal Constituency in the 2027 House of Representatives election.
The development followed Oyerinmade’s attempt to withdraw the suit when the matter came up for hearing on Wednesday.
The dismissal was contrary to a statement issued by Segun Odidi on behalf of the MATO Mandate Group, claiming that the court had granted an order permitting the withdrawal of the suit.
Rather, the presiding judge dismissed the case after counsel to Adefiranye, led by Abiola Olawole, alongside Samuel Ntibi and Daramola Martins, opposed the withdrawal application.
The defence counsel argued that the parties had already joined issues and that the law no longer permitted the plaintiff to simply withdraw the action.
When the case was called, counsel to Oyerinmade, Dr Remi Olatubora, SAN, informed the court that his client wished to withdraw the suit “for personal reasons.”
Counsel to Adefiranye, however, opposed the application and urged the court to dismiss the case on the grounds that issues had already been joined by the parties.
After listening to the submissions, the judge agreed with the defence and ruled: “Issues have been joined in this matter. I will make an order of dismissal.”
The court consequently dismissed the suit and further ruled: “I make no order as to cost.”
The ruling effectively brought Oyerinmade’s legal challenge against Adefiranye’s candidacy to an end.
Oyerinmade was among the aspirants backed by Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who contested for the APC National Assembly ticket but lost out in the primary election.
A reliable source told our correspondent that Oyerinmade had concluded plans to leave the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party, where he is expected to pursue his political ambition to contest the Ondo South Senatorial District election in the 2027 general elections.
However, legal experts have expressed the view that the manner in which the suit was terminated could have implications for any subsequent attempt by Oyerinmade to secure the PDP senatorial ticket.
They noted that the judge did not merely record the withdrawal of the suit but dismissed it after upholding the defence’s argument that issues had already been joined.
