Ondo Tribunal Nullifies Reps ‘ Election

…… Niger Tribunal nullifies APC lawmaker’s election for not attaining 30yrs

The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ondo State has nullified the election of a member of the House of Representatives representing Ilaje/Eseodo Federal Constituency, Hon Kolade Akinjo.

Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Anthony Ogar, while delivering judgement hinged his decision on the fact that the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, for the April 11 election was not qualified to fly the party’s flag for the election.

Akinjo was the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, before he dumped the party for the PDP together with the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, before the March 28 election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared him the winner of the March election having scored the highest number of lawful votes in the election.

But the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Lucky Ayedatiwa, approached the tribunal to change the outcome of the election asking for the nullification of the said election.

The tribunal in its judgment held that the PDP candidate scored the highest number of lawful votes and that the election was free and fair.

Justice Ogar however held that Akinjo was not duly nominated by the PDP for the election as he was still a member of LP when he contested the election under PDP’s platform. The chairman also said Akinjo’s nomination did not comply with due process and consequently nullified the election.

Justice Ogar then ordered for a fresh election for the federal constituency.

Meanwhile, the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Suleja constituency in the Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Murtala Badaru, has been nullified by the State and National Assembly elections petitions tribunal in Minna, the Niger state capital.

Shaibu Iya of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had challenged the election of Badaru on the grounds of certificate forgery and underage.

In his judgment, Olatunde Oshodi, chairman of the tribunal, said Badaru was not found guilty of certificate forgery as alleged by the petitioner.

However, Oshodi nullified the election on the ground that Badaru has not attained the constitutional age of 30 years, required to be a lawmaker.

He nullified the election and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commisssion (INEC) to conduct fresh elections within 90 days‎.

Reacting, Chris Osuagwu, counsel to Badaru, told journalists that his client would appeal the judgment.