Ondo election Tribunal commences sitting

The legal battle over the conduct of the November 16, 2024, governorship election in Ondo State commenced on Friday as the Election Petition Tribunal held its inaugural sitting in Akure, the state capital.

Thousands of supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and other political parties gathered at the court premises to witness the proceedings.

In his brief inaugural address, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Benson Ogbu, called for the cooperation of all counsels, assuring all parties involved in the petition of a fair hearing and appropriate justice.

He urged all parties to provide the necessary support to enable the Tribunal to carry out its assignment effectively.

Justice Ogbu emphasized that the Tribunal’s decisions would be based strictly on constitutional provisions. He advised counsels not to preempt the Tribunal’s rulings and to refrain from addressing the press prematurely, urging them to wait for the final verdict.

He further stated that the use of phones or any recording devices to capture the Tribunal’s proceedings or the faces of the justices would not be allowed. However, he encouraged anyone seeking clarification to approach the Tribunal’s secretariat.

Meanwhile, the parties involved in the case, including the PDP, APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), are set to present 149 witnesses before the Election Petition Tribunal regarding the November 16 governorship election.

The opposition PDP announced that it would call 43 witnesses, INEC 19, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa 32, while the APC and his running mate, Olaiyide Adelami, would present 20 and 35 witnesses, respectively.

The PDP and its governorship candidate, Hon. Agboola Ajayi, through their counsel, Ishaka Dikko, had filed a petition challenging the election that declared Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the APC as the winner.

The petitioners were represented by Ishaka Dikko and Bankole Joy Akomolafe (Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN), while the respondents, including INEC, APC, Aiyedatiwa, and Adelami, were represented by Charles Edosan, Bode Olanipekun, H.O. Afolabi, and Tayo Oyetibo (SAN).

In addition to the PDP, other political parties that filed petitions before the Justice Ogbu-led Election Petition Tribunal—including Justices Daurabu Sikkam and Imelda Etiape—include the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

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All the petitioners are requesting the Election Petition Tribunal to annul the November 16 governorship election, arguing that the results did not reflect the electorate’s will and that the APC candidates were unqualified to contest.

However, the respondents countered that the issue of qualifications had already been determined by the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. They urged the Tribunal to dismiss the petitions.

Present at the inaugural sitting and pre-trial conference were Governor Aiyedatiwa, his deputy, Dr. Olaiyide Adelami, and top politicians from across party lines.

Speaking after the proceedings, Aiyedatiwa expressed confidence in the integrity of the election and dismissed concerns over the petition against his victory, stating that the election was widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most peaceful and credible in recent times.

He said, “There is nothing to worry about. The election was peaceful and has been recorded as one of the most credible and transparent elections in Nigeria in recent times. The Tribunal is simply an avenue to hear the opposition’s concerns.

“Learning is a continuous process. Even as a governor, I want to understand judicial proceedings better, especially with the presence of esteemed legal professionals and justices on the panel. This is an opportunity for me, and I want to be part of it. There is nothing to worry about.”