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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
Hon. Karounwi Oladapo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Ekiti Central Federal Constituency II in the 2027 National Assembly election, has been dragged to the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti division over his alleged failure to resign as the Ekiti State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development under Governor Biodun Oyebanji, before contesting in the recently concluded House of Representatives primary election.
The suit, instituted by an aspirant in his constituency, Victor Olumuyiwa Kolade, challenged Karounwi’s eligibility to contest the party’s primary on the grounds that he failed to resign his political appointment within the period prescribed by the Electoral Act 2026 and the APC Constitution.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Abiodun Owonikoko, announced his appearance, while Femi David represented the first defendant, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Adefolaju Ayobioyoloja appeared for the second defendant, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Kolapo Kolade represented the third defendant, Karounwi Oladapo.
In his argument, Owonikoko told the court that the plaintiff’s case centred on the allegation that Karounwi remained a serving member of the Ekiti State Executive Council after participating in the APC primary election held on May 16, 2026.
He noted that Section 88(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, as well as Articles 2 and 31(3) of the APC Constitution, required the third defendant to resign his appointment before participating in the primary election.
According to him, documentary evidence tendered before the court, particularly Exhibits Kolade 5 and 6, allegedly showed that Karounwi continued to function as a cabinet member until May 21, 2026, several days after the primary election.
The plaintiff’s counsel argued that the defendant ought to have resigned 30 days before the election, insisting that public records demonstrated that he remained a political appointee beyond the legally permissible period.
He further drew the court’s attention to the case of another former cabinet member, Architect Temitope Ogunleye, who, according to him, resigned before contesting in another constituency and whose name was subsequently removed from the official list of cabinet members.
Owonikoko also argued that while Ogunleye’s name no longer appeared in official government publications and on the state government’s website, Karounwi’s name remained listed as a cabinet member as of May 29, 2026, indicating that he had not effectively resigned before the primary election.
He urged the court to uphold the plaintiff’s claims and declare the third defendant ineligible to contest for the election.
In his response, counsel to third defendant (Karounwi), Kolapo Kolade argued that his client resigned his appointment more than 50 days before the conduct of the primary election, exceeding the minimum requirement of 30 days stipulated by law.
According to him, the critical legal requirement was the submission of a resignation letter and not the subsequent administrative actions of the employer.
Kolade informed the court that the resignation was duly accepted and that the defendant also filed his end-of-tenure declaration with the Code of Conduct Bureau on April 15, 2026.
He maintained that the actions or omissions of the employer regarding official records should not be visited on the third defendant.
The counsel said that whatever administrative steps the state government took after receiving the resignation could not invalidate the defendant’s compliance with the law.
He therefore urged the court to hold that Karounwi did not violate any provision of the Electoral Act or the APC Constitution and to dismiss the suit with substantial costs.
Meanwhile, counsel to the second defendant (APC), Adefolaju Ayobioyoloja urged the court to dismiss the case for lack of substantial evidence while counsel to the first defendant (INEC), Femi David noted that the commission has no business in investigating whether Karounwi had resigned or not, saying INEC relies on the names forwarded to them as required by the party’s constitution.
In his ruling, Justice Musa Usman Abubakar adjourned the matter until September 21, 2026, for further proceedings.
