Akeredolu vs Jegede: Election Tribunal Rules On Ondo Gov’ship Election

The Ondo State Election Petitions Tribunal has dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Eyitayo Jegede against Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Naija News reports that the PDP candidate had challenged the victory of the ruling APC and its candidate in the October 10, 2020 governorship election which saw the re-election of Governor Akeredolu for a second term in office.

While delivering judgement in Akure, the chairman of the three-member panel Justice Umar Abubakar struck out the petition of Eyitayo Jegede of the PDP for want of Jurisdiction.

According to him “Issue raised therein in this petition are settled the issue of internal affairs and management of a political party which this Tribunal has no jurisdiction.”

This online newspaper reports that the tribunal had earlier fixed judgement for Wednesday but later changed it to Tuesday.

The judgement was delivered via zoom because of the ongoing strike action by members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).

All courts in the state have been shut down due to the strike by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria.

Jegede had asking the Tribunal to declare him winner of the election on grounds that Governor Akeredolu and his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, were not validly nominated.

He, however, did not call any witness to testify