Tribunal nullifies PDP lawmakers’ elections

Yinka Oladoyinbo, Akure - 18.07.2008

The election petition tribunal sitting in Akure on Thursday nullified the election of the member representing Ile-Olui/Okeigbo/Odigbo federal constituency of Ondo State in the House of Representatives, Mr. Emmanuel Adedeji.

The tribunal also nullified the election of the chairman of the state House of Assembly Committee on Education, Mr. Oye Aladetan, representing Ilaje Constituency 1.

The elections of the two lawmakers, who were candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were nullified because of substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2006.

The Justice Joseph Ikeygh-led tribunal, therefore, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh election in the federal constituency within 90 days, while that of the house of assembly was put at 60 days.

The candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the federal constituency, Mr. Johnson Adeoba, and his counterpart for Ilaje constituency 1, Mr. Wole Ogunyemi, had filed petitions before the tribunal challenging the return of the PDP candidates by INEC.

According to the first judgment read by Justice Ijem Onwuamegbu, the tribunal said it could not return the petitioner as he failed to link the first respondent with the allegation of malpractices but it established that there was over voting.

Also in the second judgment delivered by Justice Maiwada Abdullahi, the tribunal nullified the election of Aladetan, citing gross violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2006.