Brickbats As Election Petition Tribunal Begins Sitting In Ondo |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

The People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in Ondo state has insisted that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu did not win the October 10 Governorship election.

This was contained in a statement on Sunday, in Akure, by the publicity secretary of PDP, Kenedy Peretei.

The assertion is coming just as the Ondo gubernatorial election petitions tribunal will hold its Inaugural sitting in Akure on Tuesday.

Justice Umar Abubakar, leading two other Justices will hear the petition filed by Eyitayo Jegede, SAN against Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN who was declared winner of the October 10, 2020 Election by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Election Tribunals are established pursuant to section 285 of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution ( as Amended)and  section 133 of the Electoral Act 2011( as Amended) to address disputes arising from Elections.

Eyitayo Jegede, the Candidate of the PDP dragged the All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN before the Tribunal to answer for perceived infractions on the laws of the land.

Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN is leading a team of legal luminaries to prosecute the legal fireworks.

The  PDP statement explained that the grounds of the petition include that; Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was not validly nominated by his party, the APC.

“By the provisions of section 183 of the 1999 Constitution, a serving Governor of a State( in this case, Yobe State Governor  Mai Mala Buni) cannot serve as the National Chairman of APC at the same time to nominate Akeredolu as Candidate of their Party for the Ondo Elections.

“Section 183 states “The Governor shall not, during the period when he holds office, hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsover”.

“In other words, Akeredolu was not validly nominated and as such APC had no candidate for the Ondo Election.

“Article 17 section iv of the APC Constitution also provides that, any official of the party cannot simultaneously occupy any other executive office in government.

“It states “No officer in any organ of the party shall hold  executive position office in  government concurrently”.

Again Buni ran foul of this provision.

“Another ground is that the election was marred with violence in some local governments as well as over voting in other areas.

“These are some of the grounds that Jegede is relying on and asking the Tribunal to declare him as the validly elected Governor of Ondo State.”

The APC, through its spokesman, Steve Otaloro, said PDP is chasing shadow with its candidate’s petition, saying the people of the state have spoken.

”The Peoples Democratic Party,(PDP) recently released a Press Statement which can best be described as a sour and unpalatable Pot Pourri of lies, inaccuracies, false accusations and allegations on why they’re challenging the re-election and overwhelming Victory of our Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, in the October 10, 2020 Ondo State guber election, at the tribunal

“Ordinarily our esteemed Party, the APC would not have responded to it but for its tendencies to mislead the unsuspecting Public and hinder the return of peace and harmony to the Sunshine State!

“However as a responsible Party, ever conscious of the need to always adhere strictly to existing Political Ethics, our response shall be expressed with caution and modesty so that we do not run foul of the law in making references to a case which is already before a properly constituted Tribunal.”