TRIBUNAL SACKS OGUN ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS FEDERAL LAWMAKER

The Election Petition Tribunal led by Hon Justice Wakkil Alkali Gana canceled elections in Ward 5, Unit 5 in Ijebu Ode LGA, Ward 10, Unit 3 in Odogbolu LGA and the entire Ward 8 in Ijebu North-East LGA in the constituency.

Penpushing reports that, candidate of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) , Taiwo Shote, had filed a petition challenging Osunsanya’s declaration as winner of the election declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the February 23, 2019, election.

The tribunal in its judgement ordered that since the margin of lead and difference between the petitioner and 1st respondent was less than 4,000 and the total number of canceled votes was 8,800, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ought not to have declared Osunsanya as the winner of the election in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Penpushing further reports that, the court in the judgement  held that the electoral commission should have declared the election inconclusive and held a rerun in the affected wards and polling units, and therefore declared that Osunsanya was not duly elected and subsequently nullified the Certificate of Return issued to him by INEC.

The petitioner, while reacting to the judgment, said it was a victory for the rule of law, adding, “I am very delighted at the judgment just delivered. I am happy that justice has been served. Although the wheel of justice grinds slowly, it grinds steadily and surely’.

 ‘It is a victory for the rule of law and good people of Ijebu Central federal constituency. I thank God and the good people of Ijebu Ode, Ijebu North East and Odogbolu local government areas for their unflinching support thus far, and I promise not to disappoint them,” he submitted.