Posted by By TUNDE RAHEEM, Akure on
It was a black day for the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State as the election petition tribunal on Tuesday nullified the election of a member of the state House of Assembly, representing Governor Olusegun Agagu's Okitipupa Constituency I, Adebusoye Olaniyi.
It was a black day for the People Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State as the election petition tribunal on Tuesday nullified the election of a member of the state House of Assembly, representing Governor Olusegun Agagu's Okitipupa Constituency I, Adebusoye Olaniyi.
The tribunal shocker for the ruling party in the state came as wife of the governor, Mrs Olufunke Agagu, was celebrating her 59th birthday at the Government House, Alagbaka with governor's aides, party members and political associates, when the judgment was delivered by the tribunal
The election was annulled on the basis of the petition filed before the tribunal by the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Akinkurolere Soji.
Akinkurolere sought for the nullification of the election by the tribunal due to irregularities and massive rigging that characterized the election, saying the PDP candidate on April 14, 2007 was not dully elected according to Electoral Act 2006.
The petitioner alleged that the election was massively rigged through over voting, disenfranchisement of eligible voters and hijacking of ballot papers and ballot boxes.
He said there were irregularities in Igbotako I, Ward 03; Igbotako II, Ward 04; Ilutitun I Ward 07; Ilutitun II, Ward 08; Ilutitun III, Ward 09; Ikoya/Igunsin Ward and Agagu's Ward in Ijuodo/Erekiti/Ijuoke.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the respondent as winner with 27,859 votes, while the petitioners followed with a distance 2,478 votes.
In a four-hour judgment delivered by Justice Paul Elechi, the tribunal condemned the role played by INEC in the election, stressing that 'INEC should have cancelled the result of the constituency, judging by the overwhelming evidence of over voting and massive rigging in the area pointed out by the petitioner in his petition."
The tribunal said, it nullified the election based on irregularities, non-compliance with Electoral Act 2006 and evidence of massive rigging and hijacking of ballot papers and boxes and ordered a fresh election which must be conducted within sixty days.