The Ondo state governorship election petition tribunal has fixed April 23, 2021, to deliver judgement on the petition filed by Eyitayo Jegede, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The three-man tribunal led by Umar Abubakar announced the date for judgement via a notice to all parties involved in the petition.
Jegede had approached the tribunal seeking to challenge the victory of Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of the state and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the October 2020 election.
The PDP candidate, through Ifedayo Adedipe, his lead counsel, had told the tribunal that the election was marred by “irregularities, violence and intimidation of eligible voters”.
While asking the tribunal to nullify the victory of Akeredolu and declare him as the winner of the election, Jegede is also seeking a nullification of the nomination of Akeredolu and Lucky Aiyedatiwa — the APC deputy governorship candidate — on the basis that they were not duly nominated by their party.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Akeredolu as the winner of the October 10 election, having polled a total of 292,830 votes to defeat Jegede who secured 195,791 votes.
At the tribunal, Akin Olujimi, counsel to Akeredolu, asked that Jegede’s petition be dismissed on the basis that it lacks merit.
After adopting the final written addresses of the lawyers to both candidates, the tribunal reserved its judgement till April 2021.
Source: The Cable