A House of Representatives aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Oluyole Federal Constituency, Hon. Abiodun Gbolagade Adelowo, has dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the APC and the lawmaker representing the constituency, Hon. Tolulope Sadipe Akande, before the Federal High Court, challenging the process that produced the party’s candidate for the forthcoming general elections.

At the first sitting of the matter before Court 1 of the Federal High Court, Adeoyo, Ibadan, on Tuesday, the plaintiff secured an order of court granting leave to serve the 3rd respondent, Hon. Sadipe Akande, through substituted means after efforts to effect personal service proved unsuccessful.

Counsel to the plaintiff informed the court that while the originating processes had been duly served on the 1st and 2nd respondents, INEC and the APC, repeated attempts to personally serve the 3rd respondent were unsuccessful.

The plaintiff’s legal team thereafter moved an ex parte application dated and filed on July 15, 2026, praying the court for an order permitting substituted service on the 3rd respondent.

The court granted the application.

In the substantive suit, Gbolagade is asking the court to determine the validity of the process that produced Hon. Sadipe Akande as the APC’s consensus candidate for the Oluyole Federal Constituency.

He contends that the outcome of the party’s primary election was in his favour and is seeking judicial intervention to challenge the emergence of the 3rd respondent as the party’s flag bearer.

Following the court’s ruling on the ex parte application, counsel to the plaintiff urged the court to adjourn the matter for hearing after substituted service had been effected on the 3rd respondent.

None of the respondents appeared before the court, nor were they represented by counsel during the proceedings.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to September 15, 2026, for definite hearing of the substantive suit.