The Ondo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Akure was asked on Saturday to nullify the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the November 16, 2024 election.
Four petitioners including a former Deputy Governor and the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the election, Hon Agboola Ajayi; the PDP; Social Democratic Party, SDP; and African Democratic Congress (ADC), canvassed this position, just as the tribunal fixed June 4 for its judgement.
The petitioners are challenging the election of Aiyedatiwa, who was the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate in the election.
The three-member panel headed by Justice Benson Ogbu, on Saturday ssaid that the tribunal would give its verdict on all the petitions on June 4, after counsel to the parties in the case had adopted their written addresses.
Ogbu said,: “After parties final addresses, further proceedings, as agreed by all parties in the tribunal stand adjourned for judgement.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Social Democratic Party (SDP), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had filed petitions against the poll’s outcome, which produced Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
During the hearing on Saturday, the petitioners urged the Tribunal to annul the November 16 election.
The PDP, represented by Counsel Bankole Akomolafe, requested that the Tribunal revoke the certificate of return awarded to Aiyedatiwa by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), citing non-compliance with the electoral act.
Additionally, lawyers representing other opposition parties, including the Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, called on the Tribunal to nullify the election results, citing what they termed massive irregularities during the polling process.
However, Counsel for Aiyedatiwa, his Deputy Dr. Olayide Adelami, and representatives from INEC, along with other respondents led by Chief Wole Olanipekun and Tayo Oyetibo, requested that the Tribunal dismiss the petition with substantial costs.
They argued that there was nothing substantial before the Tribunal to show irregularities.
Apart from this, the lawyers noted that there were no witnesses to prove electoral malpractice during the November 16,2024 governorship election.
However, Justice Benson Ogbu-led fixed June 4 for the final decision on the petitions filed by the opposition parties.
Other judges of the Tribunal included Justices Daurabu Sikkam and Imelda Etiape.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as the winner of the governorship election having defeated other candidates of the party.
Displeased with the outcome of the election, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Hon Agboola Ajayi, challenged the outcome of the election at the Justice Benson Ogbu-led Tribunal.
The PDP and Ajayi, the party candidate in the election had through their counsel, Ishaka Dikko, filed a petition against the election that produced Aiyedatiwa of the APC as the winner.
