With egg on his face, what does businessman do now?

Up until Wednesday, November 23, 2016, businessman Jimoh Ibrahim was telling everyone who cared to listen, that hell be next Governor of Ondo State and a decent one at that.

“We are going to win", he said with Trumpian confidence. "There is no grammar about that".

Figuratively thumping his chest, Ibrahim declared above the din of honking bikers and a handful of cheering supporters: "It is not possible for my name to be removed for this election, it is not possible.

"Nobody can remove it, it is there and it will be there until Saturday.”

The courts read a different script, however.

By Wednesday afternoon, the Appeal Court had set aside the ruling of Justice Okon Abang of the federal High Court and "removed" the name 'Jimoh Ibrahim' from the INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) roster.

The beneficiary of Ibrahim's misfortune was Eyitayo Jegede.

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Justice Ibrahim Saulaawa of the Appeal Court, took his time to scold Justice Abang for his previous ruling which declared Ibrahim substantive standard bearer of the PDP; ahead of the Ondo governorship election.

"Justice Okon Abang should know that the Constitution and the Electoral Act empower only the national leadership of political parties to nominate political candidates", ruled Saulawaa.

“The trial judge on his own, without allowing parties to present their arguments went ahead to deliver that ruling.

"Consequently, the Oct. 14 judgment ruling of the trial court is hereby set aside".

Dressed in a black suit, Jegede suppressed a smile.

Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, who has spent the entire year shuttling Abuja and Akure, was in gay mood.

“Initially, we thought INEC was under an undue influence from the top. With my interaction with the President, however, he (Buhari) has no hand in it. But certain elements in the Presidency are part of this conspiracy and complicity", Mimiko alleged.

Moments later, INEC declared Jegede the PDP candidate for the Ondo election.

“In compliance with the judgment delivered today, Wednesday, November 23, 2016, by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, the Independent National Electoral Commission hereby declares that Mr. Eyitatyo Jegede (SAN) is now the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, November 26, 2016", INEC secretary Agusta Okagwu, said in a statement.

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Left to lick his wounds, Ibrahim promised to fight on to "reclaim his mandate".

He'll be heading to the Supreme Court next, he declared.

“I have read the decision of the Court of Appeal delivered today. We have nothing to lose as the Supreme Court sits on the same case tomorrow. We shall get justice at the Supreme Court and if the PDP wins Saturday's election, we shall have our four-year mandate to rule Ondo State".

For the PDP, Ondo, Ibrahim and Jegede, the legal battles may only just have begun.