The Ondo Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Akure has thrown out the petition challenging the victory of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu in last year’s governorship election.
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Eyitayo Jegede, had filed the petition seeking to be declared winner of the election on the grounds that Governor Akeredolu was not properly nominated by the All Progressives Congress(APC).
The verdict on Jegede’s petition was delivered via Zoom.
But the tribunal headed by Justice Abubakar Umar struck out the petition for want of Jurisdiction.
Justice Umar, who delivered the judgment via Zoom, said Jegede has no justification to interfere in the internal affairs of the APC.
Justice Umar said: “Issue raised therein in this petition are settled issues of internal affairs and Management of a political party which this Tribunal has no Jurisdiction”.
He dismissed the petition for lacking in merit.
The tribunal declared Akeredolu and his Deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as duly elected in the October 10 governorship election.
Reacting to the judgement, Governor Akeredolu urged Jegede to join him in developing the state, saying there was no need for further litigations.
Akeredolu, who was flanked by chieftains of the All Progressives Congress(APC) hailed Ondo residents for the confidence reposed in his administration.
