Ekiti: Anxiety As Tribunal Set To Deliver Judgement In Segun Oni’s Election Petition

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal will deliver Judgement on Thursday, in the petition filed by the former Governor of the State, Segun Oni to challenge the victory of the incumbent Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji during June election.

The tribunal had communicated the date of the judgment to parties involved on Wednesday, and the notice of the judgment is already creating anxiety in some quarters in the state.

The tribunal will deliver judgement on Thursday as the 180 days stipulated in the Electoral Act within which to hear the petition is expected to lapse on January 2, 2023.

Segun Oni, candidate of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP), had on July 7th filed a petition at the tribunal challenging the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of the election.

Oni and SDP are the 1st and 2nd petitioners in the petition. The respondents are Ekiti State Governor Oyebanji (1st); APC (2nd), Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, in his capacity as chairman, APC Caretaker Extraordinary Planning Convention/Committee (3rd); INEC (4th) and Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Monisade Afuye (5th).

The tribunal chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi had on November 23, 2022, adjourned indefinitely for judgment after parties in the petition had adopted their final written addresses before the three-member panel.

Oyebanji was sworn in on October 16 as successor to Kayode Fayemi, having completed second term as Governor.