Abuja court shifts hearing of suit seeking to halt conduct of Oyo LG elections

Federal High Court in Abuja has rescheduled the hearing of a lawsuit aimed at halting the Oyo State Local Government Elections to September 10. The judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, granted the extension to allow the plaintiff, Akinloye Olusegun Oyeniyi, to provide proof of serving the necessary summonses to the court. The plaintiff had filed the suit against the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, alleging that the 1st defendant’s authority to conduct the elections extends beyond merely verifying documents of nominated candidates, and infringes upon the plaintiff's right to vote freely.

The lawsuit requested a declaration that the 1st defendant’s constitutional duties are limited to verifying documents of nominated candidates and praying for an order restraining the 2nd defendant from releasing the official voter register until Items 6 and 9 of the revised timetable for the 2026/2027 Local Government Councils Elections are struck out or cancelled.