Politics

Ondo Election Tribunal: PDP Closes Its Case, INEC Asks For More Time To Study Petition

By Web News 593

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP and its candidate in the Ondo 2020 October 10 Governorship election, Eyitayo Jegede have closed their case before the State Election Petitions Tribunals sitting in Akure.

Counsel to the petitioners, Mr Onyechi Ikpeazu said they had opted to narrow their case to the evidences presented before the court.

Jegede and the PDP had listed over 400 witnesses and many exhibits with additional nine days to defend their case.

Mr Ikpeazu said his clients are no longer interested in calling further witnesses aside from Jegede who was in the witness box on Tuesday, leaving out 399 witnesses uncalled.

Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mr Charles Edosomwan prayed the court for time to further study the petitions and be able to open their defence.

Counsel to the All Progressives Congress, APC, Lateef Fagbemi, that of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and the Deputy Governor-elect Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Akin Olujimi did not oppose the prayer of INEC.

Further hearing has been adjourned till next Tuesday to enable the first respondent, INEC to open their defence.

Leke Adegbite

Politics

Ondo Governorship Election Tribunal Resumes, As Jegede Gives Evidence

By Web News 886

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