An Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Akure has nullified the election of a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly representing Ileoluji/Okeigbo constituency, Hon. Nelson Akinsuroju of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The tribunal subsequently ordered rerun election in six, out of the 27 polling units being challenged by the PDP Candidate, of the entire 191 polling units in the Constituency, declaring that the March 18th, 2023 Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Constituency election inconclusive.
The tribunal ruled on a petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Candidate, Babatunde Fadare against the election of Akinsuroju, which has created a state of uncertainty in the camp of the sacked lawmaker.
The lawmaker was announced winner by INEC, after polling a total number of 10,207 votes, to beat the PDP candidate who polled 9,287 votes.
The petitioner urged the court to declare the election inconclusive and order INEC to conduct supplementary election in the 6 affected units where election were disrupted.
The petitioner also joined INEC and APC as respondents in the petition.
The three-man panel led by the Chairman, Rose Soji, on Tuesday ordered for a rerun in 6 affected polling units in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo local government area of Ondo State.
Reacting, counsel to Akinsuroju, Remi Olatubora SAN, represented by Barrister Olumide Ogidan alleged that the judgement was one sided as it is based on morality of the case and not competence of the results, saying the decision would be challenge at the appeal court.
