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The Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure has struck out a petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party against the return of Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as Governor.
The petition filed by PDP’s Eyitayo Jegede was struck out for want of jurisdiction by the three-man panel led by Justice Abubakar Umar.
The Tribunal in its virtual judgment said the issues raised in the petition are internal affairs and management challenges of a political party which it has no jurisdiction to hear.
In the ruling, the Tribunal opined that Akeredolu and his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa were duly nominated and sponsored by the APC in line with section 177 of the constitution and section 31 of the electoral Act, adding that the electoral laws did not specify who to submit the names of candidates.
The Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal on Tuesday struck out the case filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the October 10, 2020 governorship poll in the state, Eyitayo Jegede.
Following the re-election of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) last year, Akeredolu had challenged the victory in the Tribunal.
But the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Abubakar Umar, dismissed the case of the PDP candidate for lacking in merit.
“The issue raised therein in this petition are settled issue of internal affairs and Management of a political party which this Tribunal has no Jurisdiction,” he ruled.
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The Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal, on Tuesday, struck out the case filed by Eyitayo Jegede, challenging the victory of Rotimi Akeredolu.
Mr Jegede was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the October 10, 2020 governorship poll in the state.
Jegede had filed a petition at the tribunal following the re-election of Governor Akeredolu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Abubakar Umar, dismissed the case of the PDP candidate on grounds that it lacked merit.
“The issue raised therein in this petition are settled issue of internal affairs and Management of a political party which this Tribunal has no jurisdiction,” he ruled.
In the two-hour judgment, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Abubakar Umar however struck out Jegede’s petition for lack of jurisdiction.
According to the tribunal, “Issue raised therein in this petition are settled the issue of internal affairs and Management of a political party which this Tribunal has no jurisdiction.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Akeredolu the winner of the last year’s governorship election having polled the highest lawful votes to defeat Jegede of the PDP and former Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Displeased with the outcome of the election, Jegede through his Counsel, Mr Onyeksasi Ikpeasu (SAN) challenged the victory of Akeredolu at the poll.