By Ayodele Oni
Another judicial pronouncement is due over the October 20, 2020 Governorship election in Ondo state on Wednesday, 16th June, 2021.
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Akure, is set to deliver judgement on that day in the appeal brought before it by the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Eyitayo Jegede, in the Governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) had declared Governor Rotimi Akeredolu winner of the election and, victory confirmed by the Election Petition Tribunal. But Jegede appealed.
The judgment date, which has been communicated to all parties, was arrived at by the the three-man panel led by Justice Theresa Ngolika Orji-Abadua.
The panel had sat on the case after Jegede’s counsel, Oyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN, canvassed in his submission why Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa should be sacked insisting that they were not properly nominated by their party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Counsels to Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa, APC and INEC; Akin Olujimi, Lateef Fagbemi and Charles Edosanmwon, however, faulted Jegede’s arguments saying the case was a pre-election matter.
The Appellate Court had earlier fixed Thursday, June 3, to hear the appeal filed by the PDP candidate, Eyitayo against the Election Tribunal’s judgement which affirmed the victory of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the poll.
Jegede approached the Appellate Court to challenge the ruling of the Election Tribunal, which dismissed his case on the grounds that it was flawed and lacked merit.
The PDP candidate is challenging the nomination of Akeredolu by the Caretaker Chairman of the APC, Mai Mala Buni, on the grounds that the Yobe State Governor, lacks the constitutional power to be party chairman while holding an executive position.
Akeredolu, Aiyedatiwa, APC and INEC had, however faulted the arguments of Jegede and the PDP on the grounds that their case was a pre-election matter and internal affairs of the APC which the tribunal had no jurisdiction to entertain.
While the Tribunal ruled that it had jurisdiction to entertain the case, it, however struck it out saying evidences confirmed that Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa were properly nominated by the APC.
It was gathered that Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa, INEC and the APC have also filed Cross-Appeals to challenge the ruling of the Tribunal to assume jurisdiction over the case.
