Ogun: Tribunal sacks Ogun House of Reps member, orders rerun within 90 days

The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital yesterday nullified the election of Hon Kolapo Korede Osunsanya, who represents Ijebu-Ode/Odogbolu/Ijebu-Ode NorthEast federal constituency, at the House of Representatives on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Honourable Justice Wakkil Alkali Gana-led tribunal cancelled elections in Ward 5, Unit 5 in Ijebu Ode LGA; Ward 10, Unit 3 in Odogbolu LGA and the entire Ward 8 in Ijebu North East LGA in the federal constituency.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mr Taiwo Shote, had filed a petition challenging Osunsanya’s declaration as the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, February 23, 2019 election.

The tribunal in its judgement ordered that since the margin of lead and difference between the petitioner and 1st respondent is less than 4,000 and the total number of cancelled votes is 8,800, the INEC ought not to have declared him the winner of the election – in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

The tribunal said that the electoral commission ought to have declared the election inconclusive and then hold a rerun in the affected wards and polling units.

Consequently, the tribunal declared that Osunsanya was not duly elected and nullified the Certificate of Return issued to him by INEC and ordered that a rerun should be conducted within 90 days in Ward 5, Unit 5 in Ijebu Ode LGA; Ward 10, Unit 3 in Odogbolu LGA and the entire Ward 8 in Ijebu North East LGA.

The constituency consists of three local government areas, namely, Ijebu Ode, Ijebu North East and Odogbolu.

In his reaction to the judgment, Shote described it as victory for the rule of law.

“I am very delighted at the judgment just delivered. I am happy that justice has been served. Although the wheel of justice grinds slowly, it grinds steadily and surely.

“It is victory for the rule of law and good people of Ijebu Central federal constituency. I thank God and the good people of Ijebu Ode, Ijebu North East and Odogbolu local government areas for their unflinching support thus far, and I promise not to disappoint them.”

 

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