Politics

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

By Web News 587

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 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

Security

Oyo NSCDC Deploys 2000 Personnel Ahead of Ondo Governorship Election

By Web News 823

Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Oyo State Command says it has deployed two thousand personnel to Ondo State ahead of the gubernatorial election.

NSCDC Commandant in Oyo State, Mr Iskilu Akinsanya stated this while addressing the personnel before taking off to Ondo State.

He said the officers which comprises of Intelligence, Arm Squad, Special Force, Rangers and SWAT deployed to reinforce others on ground in Ondo for the conduct of a free, fair and credible election in the state. 

While speaking, the Commandant charged the deployed personnel to abide by the election guidelines by maintaining orderliness at polling units, collation centres and also be good ambassadors of the corps.

The Commandant gave the assurance that all hand were on deck for a joint operation with all other security agencies to curb any acts of violence, assault, ballot snatching, before, during, and after the election.

Mr Akinsanya therefore implored the electorate in Ondo State to come out to exercise their civic right and conduct themselves in an orderly manner during and after the election with the observation of government saftety protocols on COVID-19.

Rasheedah Makinde

Politics

Ondo PDP Holds Primaries

By Web News 847

Eight aspirants are participating in the primary election of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State with over two thousand delegates to choose who becomes the party’s candidate for the Ondo State October 10 Governorship Election.

The aspirants are Eyitayo Jegede, Agboola Ajayi, Bode Ayorinde, Godday Erewa, Eddy Olafeso, Banji Okunomo, Sola Ebiseeni and Boluwaji Kunlere.

The delegates from the eighteen council areas are converging on the International Event Centre, The Dome in Akure the state capital for the exercise.

Already the party’s national working committee had appointed Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwanyi as the Chairman of the Primary Election Committee.

Ondo PDP director of media and publicity, Mr Zadok Akintoye told Radio Nigeria that all arrangements had been put in place for a hitch free exercise.

The winner in the election will be challenging the incumbent, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of the APC who is seeking re-election in the October 10 governorship polls.

Dupe Isename

Politics

I have no plans to dump APC – Akeredolu

By Web News 749

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu says he remains in the All Progressives Congress, APC, and ready for any mode of primary election ahead of the October 10th governorship election.

The governor speaking through his Commissioner for Information, Mr Donald Ojogo maintained that he had no plan to dump the All Progressives Congress, APC in the event of any eventuality.

Mr Ojogo said the governor was more prepared for the party primary either direct or indirect form.

The commissioner who berated the numerous attack on Governor Akeredolu’s family which he said though was expected at a period like this, challenged the opposition to engage in constructive criticism in the interest of a better democratic dispensation.

He described the activities in the APC Unity Forum as that of contradictory interest which could not hold water or affect the aspirations and developmental strides of Governor Akeredolu.

Mr Ojogo however commended the media in Ondo State for their unbiased reportage as events unfold in the state.

Olumide Abudu