Reactions As Tribunal Sacks Ondo Lawmaker

Ondo State House of Assembly member representing Ileoluji/Okeigbo constituency, Nelson Akinsuroju of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been sacked by the election petition tribunal sitting in Akure.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Akinsuroju winner of the March 18th, 2023 Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Constituency election after polling a total number of 10,207 votes to beat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Babatunde Fadare, who polled 9,287 votes.

But Fadare petitioned the tribunal, challenging the election outcome because the election was not valid for non-compliance with electoral laws, and Akinsuroju failed to secure the highest lawful votes cast.

He also urged the court to declare the election inconclusive and order INEC to conduct supplementary elections in the six affected units where elections were disrupted.

The petitioner also joined INEC and APC as respondents in the petition.

READ: INEC Fixes Dates For Edo, Ondo Governorship Elections

However, the three-man panel led by the Chairman, Rose Soji, while delivering judgement, declared the March 18th election was inconclusive and ordered a rerun in 6 affected polling units in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo local government area of Ondo State, out of the 27 polling units being challenged by the PDP Candidate.

Reacting to the verdict, counsel to Akinsuroju, Remi Olatubora SAN, said the judgement was one-sided as it is based on the morality of the case and not a competence of the results.

Represented by Barrister Olumide Ogidan, the defense counsel, added that the judgment shall be studied and appealed within the stipulated timeframe, as stated in the Electoral Act 2022.

The sacked lawmaker, Akinsuroju, also called for calm and urged the people of Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo State Constituency to be hopeful as the judgment shall be appealed through his legal team.

Akinsuroju added that their mandate would be protected to ensure that they continue to enjoy the dividends of their democracy, which they have been enjoying for over four months.

• Sodiq Lawal