Akure: The Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has announced that it will deliver its judgment on June 4 regarding the petitions filed against the November 16 governorship election in the state. The three-member panel, led by Justice Benson Ogbu, made this declaration in Akure after all parties involved presented their final written addresses.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the tribunal, which commenced its proceedings on January 31, 2025, is dealing with five petitions challenging the election’s results. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had previously declared Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the candidate from the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the election.
The petitions seeking to nullify the election argue non-compliance with the Electoral Act. The petitioners include the Action Alliance and its candidate, Mr. Abdullahi Olowokere, and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) with their candidate, Chief Bamidele Akingboye. Other petitioners are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr. Agboola Ajayi, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Mr. Kolawole Ogunfeyimi, as well as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) with Mr. Adeyemi Nejo.
The respondents in the case are the APC, Mr. Aiyedatiwa and his running mate Mr. Olayide Adelami, along with INEC. Counsel for the PDP, Mr. Ishaka Dikko and Bankole Akomolafe, contended that the election suffered from significant non-compliance with the Electoral Act, requesting the tribunal to void Aiyedatiwa’s certificate of return.
Conversely, Aiyedatiwa, Adelami, and INEC urged the tribunal to reject the petitions. Represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, and Mr. Charles Edosomwan, the respondents argued that the petitions lack merit and should be dismissed.