In the majority judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, four of the seven-member panel, dismissed the appeal by Eyitayo Jegede and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on the grounds that it was incompetent.

Justice Agim upheld an earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal, that the petition filed by Jegede and his party at the election tribunal was incompetent because they failed to include the Yobe governor and chairman of the caretaker committee of the APC, Mai Mala-Buni, as a party.

In the minority judgment read by Justice Mary Peter-Odili, the court upheld the appeal and dismiss the cross appeal by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Akeredolu and the APC.

Odili and two other members of the panel were of the view that since the APC, for which Buni acted, was a party in the case, there was no need to include him as a party.

The main appeal was filed by the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in the last governorship election in Ondo State, Eyitayo Jegede, against Akeredolu, challenging the competence of APC’s sponsorship of Akeredolu for the election.

Jegede approached the electoral petitions tribunal praying that the declaration of Akeredolu as the winner of the election by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should be set aside.

He also prayed the apex court to declare him winner on grounds that the emergence of the APC candidate breached the nation’s constitution.

On July 16, the Court of Appeal led by Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua had dismissed the petition filed by Jegede while affirming Akeredolu as the winner of the poll.

In its verdict, the Appeal Court had out of seven issues raised for determination resolved four and half in favour of Jegede and the rest two and half in favour of Akeredolu.

Not satisfied with the decision of the Appellate Court, both Akeredolu, Jegede, and INEC approached the Supreme Court for the invalidation of both the Election Petition Tribunal and Appeal Court.

Source: NAN

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This is contained in a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, and made available to newsmen in Akure on Wednesday.

The party and its candidate in the October 10, 2020 governorship election, Eyitayo Jegede, had approached the Court of Appeal to nullify Akeredolu’s election.

However, the appellate court said in a unanimous judgment on Wednesday that the petition by PDP and its candidate lacked merit.

In concluding her lead judgement, Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua, said the appeal was partially dismissed and partially allowed.

“To the ordinary man in the street, the judgement was inconclusive and we must approach the Supreme Court to help the Appeal Court to conclude the judgement.

“The kernel of the Eyitayo Jegede/PDP petition was whether or not a gross violation of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) should be allowed to stay.

“Whether or not Mai Mala Buni, as a sitting Governor of Yobe State can double as National Chairman of All Progressives Congress, to sign the nomination of Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) for the governorship election.

“While the Court of Appeal acknowledged that it was a violation of the Constitution, it still went ahead to dismiss the appeal.

“We are still studying the details of the judgement, by virtue of the fact that it was delivered via Zoom. But we have sufficient grounds to appeal the decision of the court.

“We are confident the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the land, will do justice,” the statement added.

Source: NAN

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The party made the declaration at a joint meeting of Accord Party and PDP leaders held in Akure on Wednesday.

Dr. Ambode Abiodun who led the Accord Party team stated that his party would cooperate and fuse with the PDP at all levels.

Abiodun pleaded with the PDP members to show love and extend hands of fellowship to those coming to join them.

He pledged to deliver votes that would not be less than 100,000 for Eyitayo Jegede in the October 10 election.

In his response, Ondo State PDP chairman, Fatai Adams, assured the Accord Party leadership of a swift and comprehensive integration process that would give everybody a sense of belonging.

Members of the State Working Committee, Board of Trustee, Chief Segun Adegoke, Amb. Omolade Oluwateru and Chairman Elders Committee, Dr. Tayo Dairo, were all present at the event.

Source: NAN

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In the election held on Wednesday in Ondo State, Jegede polled 888 votes to defeat his closest rival, Agboola Ajayi, who is the current deputy governor of the state, but defected to the PDP from the All Progressives Congress recently.

Agboola polled 657 votes; Mr Eddy Olafeso polled 175; Mr Bode Ayorinde 95; Boluwaji Kunlere 33; Mr Sola Ebiseni 29 and Goddey Erewa 14.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, who chaired the committee for the primary election, announced Jegede as the winner.

“Having  met all the guidelines of our party, Mr Eyitayo Jegede is hereby declared  winner and returned elected as candidate of PDP Ondo State governorship election,’’ he said.

Ugwuanyi  said although 2,122 delegates were supposed to participate in the election, only 2,050 delegates took part.

According to him, 2,045 delegates voted, while 64 votes were returned invalid.

In his reaction, Jegede expressed gratitude to God and commended the election committee for a successful exercise.

He warned that by his victory, the end had come to the government of the APC in Ondo State.

Said he: “By this victory, we serve a notice on the All Progressives Congress (APC) that for them, the end has come.

“By the grace of God, with the assistance of the people, and the support of party members and all the aspirants, we will take over the government of Ondo State on October 10.’’

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