Ondo Election Tribunal: Akeredolu, Jegede Get Judgement Date |The Source

By Ayodele Oni

There is palpable apprehension in the camps of candidates of All Progressives Congress, (APC) and People’s Democratic Party,(PDP), in Ondo state as the Governorship Election Petition tribunal fixed  Wednesday, 21st  April, 2021, as judgement day in the petition challenging the victory of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, at the October 10, 2020 poll.

The three-man panel led by Justice Umar Abubakar announced this on Friday, through a notice to all parties in the case.

The petition was filed by the PDP candidate in the election, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, who hinged his argument on the fact that the winner of the election, Governor Akeredolu, was not properly nominated by his party.

Parties in the petition had, in  February this year, adopted their written addresses before the Tribunal and, thereafter, adjourned with a promise to communicate the date of judgement to them.

The petitioner, who insisted that Governor Akeredolu’s participation at the poll was unconstitutional, prayed that he and his deputy, Lucky Ayedatiwa of the APC, be removed from office.

However, the defence Counsels had told the Tribunal to dismiss the petition on several grounds.

According to the Counsel to Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa, Akin Olujimi, SAN,and that of the APC, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN,  the petitioner had admitted in paragraph 12 of its petition the sponsorship of third and first respondents, but failed to prove that they were not validly nominated.

The Counsels described the petitioner’s move like that of the inconsistency of pleading which they said is forbidden by the law.

They subsequently prayed the Tribunal to dismiss the petition for not being properly filed, adding that the Tribunal also lacked the jurisdiction to interpret section 183 of the constitution as prayed for by the petitioner.

Mr Akeredolu was sworn in for second in February.