The Ondo State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Akure has dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Eyitayo Jegede against Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
EyewitnessMedia gathered that Jegede’s petition was struck out for want of Jurisdiction and lack of merit
The tribunal judgement, which was earlier scheduled for Wednesday, April 20th, was rescheduled for yesterday and was held via Zoom.
In the two hours judgement, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Abubakar Umar however struck out Jegede’s petition for Lack of Jurisdiction.
(INEC) had declared Akeredolu the winner of the last year’s governorship election having polled the highest lawful votes to defeat Jegede of the PDP and former Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Displeased with the outcome of the election, Jegede through his Counsel, Mr Onyeksasi Ikpeasu (SAN) challenged the victory of Akeredolu at the poll.
However, delivering judgement virtually in Akure, the chairman of the three-member panel Justice Umar Abubakar said that the “Issue raised therein in this petition are settled issue of internal affairs and management of a political party which this Tribunal has no jurisdiction.”
The tribunal ruled that Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his Deputy Lucky Aiyedatiwa were duly nominated and sponsored by the APC in line with section 177 of the constitution and section 31 of the Electoral Act.
“The Tribunal cannot determine whether mai Bala Buni, the governor of Yobe state is illegally occupying the seat of Caretaker chairman of the planning committee of the extraordinary convention of the APC, ” the court ruled.
Abubakar said the Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa demonstrated without the benefit of the doubt that they were duly sponsored by a political party.
The tribunal Chairman said the evidence of submission of the names of Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa by Buni led Caretaker Committee at the instance of the party’s NEC was not disputed by the petitioners.
He further pointed out that Buni’s membership of the APC was also not disputed by the petitioners.
“There is also evidence to confirm that the APC as the sponsor complied with the law in the process for the submission of the names of its Candidates, Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa”.
“Jegede’s case is flawed and hereby dismissed. The chairman declared
Justice Abubakar noted that no extra cost will be put on any parties in the petition as parties would be made to bear their costs.
