The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, will today deliver its judgement on the suit filed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the October 10, 2020 Governorship election, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, challenging the victory of the ruling APC flag-bearer at the poll and incumbent Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
Akeredolu, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had won in 15 of the state’s 18 local government areas in the election.
The court of a three-man panel of judges, isled by Justice Theresa Ngolika Orji-Abadua.
Jegede’s counsel, Oyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN, had earlier approached the Appeal Court, praying it to nullify the election on the grounds that Akeredolu’s nomination was not constitutional among other alleged irregularities which marred the election.
This came after an election petition tribunal, led by Justice Umar Abubakar, ruled on April 20, 2021 that the qualification of the APC candidate and his deputy were not a pre-election matter, but a constitutional matter, which is not within its jurisdiction.
“The issue raised therein in this petition are settled issues of internal affairs and Management of a political party which this tribunal has no jurisdiction,” the tribunal said then.
This was in accordance with the argument of the counsels of Mr Akeredolu, and the electoral body.
