In a judgement on Wednesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo also barred Mr Onyiloyi from parading himself as the deputy governorship candidate of LP in the state, having voluntarily withdrawn his candidacy.
The case was brought before the court by Ochechi Adejor, who sued the LP, INEC and Mr Onyiloyi as first to third defendants, respectively.
The plaintiff sought the court's determination on whether INEC had the power to substitute Mr Onyiloyi’s name with his after the latter withdrew his candidature as deputy governorship candidate in an affidavit he deposed to and a letter transmitted to the party.
Mr Adejor also sought an order compelling INEC to publish his name as LP’s deputy governorship candidate for the Benue election, as well as an order restraining the commission from further accepting Mr Onyiloyi’s name as the candidate representing the party in the poll.
In his judgement, Justice Ekwo declared that Mr Adejor was the LP’s valid candidate for the deputy governorship position for the Benue election, having been nominated as the candidate for the position following the voluntary withdrawal of Mr Onyiloyi.
He declared that the withdrawal of Mr Onyiloyi from the race subsisted and the publication of his name as the deputy governorship candidate was unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect.
The judge also granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from further accepting or publishing Mr Onyiloyi’s name or any other person other than Mr Adejor as the candidate representing LP for the office of the deputy governorship of Benue.
This judgement is expected to have an impact on the outcome of the Benue election, as it removes any uncertainty around the LP’s candidacy for the deputy governorship position.