Politics

Supreme Court Reaffirms Akeredolu’s Re-Election

By Web News 613

The Supreme Court has upheld the re-election of Rotimi Akeredolu as Governor of Ondo State.

Akeredolu’s victory was affirmed after four of the seven justices of the Supreme Court that heard the case upheld his candidacy in the October 10, 2020 election in the state.

Three other justices disagreed with the majority judgment, insisting that Akeredolu’s candidacy in that election was a nullity.

The minority judgment held the view that the appeal has merit and ought not to be struck out by the Appeal Court.

Akeredolu was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in October 10, 2020, Governorship election in Ondo State.

The PDP and its candidate, Eyitayo Jegede had earlier approached the Appeal Court to challenge the candidacy of Akeredolu, insisting that his nomination form was signed by a sitting Governor Mai Buni who doubles as the Acting National Chairman of the party.

The appeal was based on the constitutional provision which forbids sitting Governors from holding executive positions outside their statutory position as governors.

They prayed the court to nullify Akeredolu’s candidacy, but the Appeal Court struck out the appeal, for lack of merit.

Ridwan Fasasi

Politics

Court Upholds Akeredolu’s Election

By Web News 735

The Ondo State Election Petition Tribunal, saddled with the task of handling the complaints emanating from the October 2020 governorship poll in the state, has dismissed a petition filled by the PDP and its candidate, Eyitayo Jegede against the reelection of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN of the APC.

The petition was struck out for want of Jurisdiction and lack of merit.

Delivering the judgement virtually, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Umar Abubakar, held that issues raised therein in this petition are settled issue of internal affairs and Management of a political party which the Tribunal has no Jurisdiction.

The tribunal ruled that Oluwarotimi 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.

Justice Abubakar said the electoral laws did not specify who to submit the names of candidates. The chairman doing so is just for administrative convenience.

Justice Abubakar noted that no extra cost will be put on any parties in the petition as parties would be made to bear their costs.

The Chairman of the Tribunal added that copies of the judgment would be made available to concerned parties.

The virtual judgment monitored by Radio Nigeria was also witnessed by the State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, his deputy, Lucky Ayedatiwa, the petitioner, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, State Commissioner of Police and DSS headquarters in Abuja among others.

Adegbite/Abudu

Politics

Ondo Governorship Election Tribunal Resumes, As Jegede Gives Evidence

By Web News 874

The Ondo state Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on the October 10 2020 election has resumed sitting in Akure as the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP candidate, Mr Eyitayo Jegede gave evidence under oath.

Mr Jegede told the tribunal that the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was not validly nominated by his party.

His prayer was that the Governor of Yobe State, who is the national Caretaker chairman of the APC, Mai Balla Buni, could not also function and conduct the party’s governorship primary that produced Mr Akeredolu.

Giving evidence at the tribunal presided over by Justice Umar Abubakar, the PDP governorship candidate said the nomination of Mr Akeredolu ran contrary to the APC’s constitution and the 1999 constitution as amended saying his nomination should be set aside.

Mr Jegede led by his counsel, Mr Onyekachi Ikpeazu, prayed the tribunal to declare him the winner in the election.

Counsels to defendant, Mr Lateef Fagbemi and Chief Akin Olujimi during cross examination of the petitioner informed that Jegede as a non-member of the APC should not interfere in the internal affairs of the party.

Counsel to INEC, Mr Charles Edosanmiwan informed the tribunal that majority of the prayers of the PDP candidate were about the APC’s primary election and the emergence of Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as the party’s candidate when he is not a member of the party.

The case was adjourned till Wednesday.

Leke Adegbite

Politics

Senate Calls for Proper Conduct of Ondo Governorship Poll

By Web News 1146

The Senate has called for a level playing field in the conduct of the October 10, 2020 Governorship election in Ondo State.

The chairman, Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Ibrahim Gaya made call while on assessment visit to the Commission’s office in Akure ahead of the Guber poll.

Senator Gaya urged the electoral body to take a cue from the peaceful and transparent conduct of the Governorship election in Edo State.

Senator Gaya expressed concern on three local government areas, with high number of people who are yet to collect their permanent voter card, PVCs.

The Senate Committee Chairman also made case for procurement of extra smart card readers in view of the fire incident that gutted a makeshift office housing more than five thousand card readers.

Earlier in a welcome address, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Ambassador Rufus Akeju said the commission was prepared for a free fair and acceptable election.

Ambassador Akeju noted that necessary things had been put in place to ensure hitch-free election.

Olumide Abudu

Politics

Ajayi’s exit is of no concern to us – Ondo PDP

By Web News 734

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State has received the exit of Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi from the Party, from online publications.

As a party, we are have not received his letter of resignation but we wish him well in his political journey.

Agboola Ajayi joined our party on 22nd June, 2020 and participated at the Governorship Primaries having received waver from the National Secretariat of the party.

He has abused the welcome and privilege accorded him by our party supporters during his brief stay in the party.

He has also proved that he is desperate to become the governor of Ondo State.

In the days to come, it will dawn on him that, he has squandered whatever was remaining of his goodwill with this decision.

However, his exit from the PDP will not affect our prospects of winning the October Gubernatorial Elections this year.

The PDP remains solid, strong and more determined than ever before to win the forthcoming Governorship elections with a credible and competent Candidate in the person of Eyitayo Jegede, SAN.

Kennedy Ikantu Peretei

State Publicity Secretary, PDP, Ondo State

10th August, 2020.

Politics

Eyitayo Jegede Emerges Winner of Ondo PDP Governorship Primary

By Web News 874

A former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State, Mr  Eyitayo Jegede, SAN has been declared the candidate of the  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the October 10 Governorship election in the state.

Chairman of the Primary Election Committee and Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwanyi while announcing the winner of the PDP’s primary election held in Akure, said Mr Jegede polled eight hundred and eighty-eight votes to defeat his closest rival, the embattled Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi, who recorded six hundred and fifty seven votes 

Governor Ugwuanyi explained that other contestants in the election, Dr Eddy Olafeso polled one hundred and seventy five votes, a former House of Representatives member, Dr Bode Ayorinde scored ninety five votes, Mr Banji Okunomo got ninety votes while  Senator Boluwaji Kunlere  garnered thirty three votes.

Others are, Chief Sola Ebiseeni who had twenty nine votes and Prince Godday Erewa with fourteen votes in the keenly contested primary election.

Sixty four invalid votes were recorded out of two thousand and eleven delegates.

In his acceptance speech, the PDP flag bearer, Mr Eyitayo Jegede said he dedicated the victory to God, residents of the state and his co-aspirants urging the people of Ondo State to vote massively for the party in the October Poll.

Speaking with Radio Nigeria, some PDP stalwarts including one of the aspirants, Senator Boluwaji Kunlere described the election as transparent and reaffirmed their loyalty to the party ahead of the governorship election in October this year.

Mr Eyitayo Jegede would be challenging candidates of other political parties, including the incumbent governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress who is seeking a re-election in the governorship poll.

The primary election was conducted in compliance with Covid-19 protocols, especially wearing of facemasks, hand-washing and social distancing.

Click to Listen

Odofin/Abudu