The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has retained the name of Hon. Timehin Adelegbe as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Owo/Ose Federal Constituency, following the filing of a notice of appeal and a stay of execution against a Federal High Court judgment that had declared another aspirant as the party’s flagbearer.

The development comes as the APC intensifies its legal challenge against the judgment delivered by Justice Peter O. Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which had declared Abdulghani Rotimi Arobo as the winner of the party’s primary election for the federal constituency.

The APC, through its solicitors, Sozo Attorney, swiftly notified INEC of its intention to challenge the judgment before the Court of Appeal, while also serving notice on the Ondo State Electoral Commissioner.

In a letter dated August 6, 2026, addressed to the INEC Chairman, the party informed the commission that it had filed a Notice of Appeal expressing dissatisfaction with the judgment and had simultaneously filed a Motion for Stay of Execution pending the determination of the appeal.

The party’s letter, signed by A.G. Yirvoms Ayuba, urged the electoral body to refrain from taking any steps that would enforce the orders contained in the judgment, citing established legal principles that parties should not act to foist a state of helplessness on the appellate court.

“We wish to formally notify the Commission that the 1st Defendant has today, the 6th day of August, 2026, filed a Notice of Appeal at the Registry of the Federal High Court, Abuja, expressing its dissatisfaction with the judgment delivered by Hon. Justice Peter O. Lifu on the 5th of August, 2026.

“Furthermore, please be informed that we have also filed a Motion for Stay of Execution of the said judgment pending the hearing and determination of the appeal,” the letter stated.

The APC further requested INEC to maintain the status quo until the judicial processes pending before the appellate court are resolved, attaching copies of the Notice of Appeal and the Motion for Stay of Execution for the commission’s records and guidance.

A reliable source within the APC Secretariat in Abuja confirmed that the commission has, pending the determination of the appeal, continued to recognise Adelegbe as the party’s candidate for the constituency.

“The party has filed its appeal against the judgment and has equally served INEC with the stay of execution granted by the Court of Appeal. As things stand, Hon. Timehin Adelegbe remains the candidate recognised by the commission pending the final determination of the appeal,” the source disclosed.

The source further revealed that the APC has commenced an internal investigation into the result relied upon by the Federal High Court in declaring Arobo the winner of the primary election.

According to the source, the party is seeking to establish the origin and authenticity of the result tendered before the court, particularly the figures attributed to the aspirant.

“The party is investigating the result the plaintiff claimed showed he scored 7,959 votes in Owo Local Government Area and 2,583 votes in Ose Local Government Area. There are questions over how the result sheet was obtained and the circumstances surrounding its emergence,” the source explained.

The source added that the APC is also reviewing the processes through which the document was presented before the court and whether it emanated from the party’s official records.

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had declared Arobo as the APC candidate after holding that he won the party’s primary election. However, the APC has challenged the judgment at the Court of Appeal, insisting that substantial legal and factual issues arising from the decision should be determined by the appellate court.

Party sources expressed confidence that the Court of Appeal would resolve the issues raised in the appeal and determine the authenticity of the primary election results in dispute.