Ondo Gov Election: Jegede’s Final Fall: Supreme Court Affirms Akeredolu’s Victory

By Ayodele Oni

“For the records, Candidate Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, of the PDP has been on a losing spree. From the Election to the Election Trbunal, to the Appeal Court, and now the Apex Court, it has been a basket of loses for him – waste of time, and waste of money”

Legal hurdles over the 2020  Governorship election in Ondo state has finally been laid to rest. The Supreme Court on Wednesday affirmed the election of Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, as the duly elected governor of the state.

The Supreme Court in a unanimous judgement  dismissed the appeal filed by the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, challenging the victory of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, (APC).

Reading the lead judgement,  Justice Mary Peter-Odili said the case filed by Jegede lacked merit. Meaning that Jegede simply wasted money and time.

According to her, Jegede, and the PDP should have joined the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni in their case.

Governor Buni is the Chairman Caretaker Committee of the APC, and has been in the saddle since the dissolution of Adams Oshiomole-led National Executive.

The  Supreme Court’s seven member panel, led by Peter- Odili had earlier adjourned, after listening to submissions from parties till noon and later reconvened to deliver the judgement.

For the records, Jegede has been on a losing spree – from the Tribunal to the Appeal Court, and now, the Supreme Court.

The Court of Appeal led by Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua had last month dismissed the petition filed by the PDP candidate and affirmed Mr Akeredolu as the winner of the poll.

The  Court had, out of seven issues raised for determination, resolved four and half in favour of Jegede and the rest two and a half in favour of Akeredolu.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the Appellate Court, Gov Akeredolu, Mr Jegede, and INEC approached the Supreme Court for the invalidation of both the Election Petition Tribunal and Appeal Court judgements.