The election petition tribunal in Akure has made a decision about a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly. They have nullified the election of Hon. Nelson Akinsuroju, who represents the Ileoluji/Okeigbo constituency. This means that Akinsuroju is no longer a lawmaker. The tribunal ruled on a petition filed by the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Babatunde Fadare. Fadare challenged the election of Akinsuroju, claiming that it was not valid because it did not follow the rules. The tribunal agreed with Fadare and declared that the election was inconclusive.
As a result of the tribunal’s decision, a rerun election will take place in six out of the 27 polling units that were challenged by Fadare. This means that the people in those six units will have another chance to vote and choose their representative. The tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the rerun election in these units. This is to ensure that the election is fair and follows all the necessary rules.
In the original election, Akinsuroju, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared the winner by INEC. He received a total of 10,207 votes, while the PDP candidate received 9,287 votes. However, Fadare believed that the election was not conducted properly and that Akinsuroju did not receive the most valid votes. He filed a petition with the tribunal, asking them to declare the election inconclusive and order a rerun in the affected units.
After considering all the evidence and arguments, the three-man panel led by Chairman Rose Soji made their decision. They agreed with Fadare and ordered a rerun in the six affected polling units. Akinsuroju’s lawyer, Remi Olatubora, disagreed with the tribunal’s decision. He believed that the judgement was unfair and based on moral considerations rather than the actual results of the election. This decision by the tribunal shows the importance of following the rules and conducting elections in a fair and transparent manner. It ensures that the voices of the people are heard and that their votes truly count.
