The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Monday, nullified the election of Kolapo Korede Osunsanya, representing Ijebu Central federal constituency in the House of Representatives on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).
It also ordered a rerun election in three wards within 90 days.
Osunsanya, popularly known as KKO, is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Taiwo Shote, had filed a petition challenging the declaration of the APC candidate as winner of the February 23, 2019 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Hon Justice Wakkil Alkali Gana-led election petition tribunal 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.
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.
It further held that the electoral commission should have declared the election inconclusive and held a rerun in the affected wards and polling units.
Consequently, the tribunal declared that Osunsanya was not duly elected and nullified the Certificate of Return issued to him by INEC and ordered that a rerun should be conducted within 90 days.
Reacting to the judgment, Shote described it as a victory for the rule of law.
“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.
It also ordered a rerun election in three wards within 90 days.
Osunsanya, popularly known as KKO, is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Taiwo Shote, had filed a petition challenging the declaration of the APC candidate as winner of the February 23, 2019 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Hon Justice Wakkil Alkali Gana-led election petition tribunal 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.
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.
It further held that the electoral commission should have declared the election inconclusive and held a rerun in the affected wards and polling units.
Consequently, the tribunal declared that Osunsanya was not duly elected and nullified the Certificate of Return issued to him by INEC and ordered that a rerun should be conducted within 90 days.
Reacting to the judgment, Shote described it as a victory for the rule of law.
“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.
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