Tribunal orders re-run election for Saki West constituency of Oyo State

In Oyo State, the National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal mandated a run-off election for the Saki West state constituency.

The All Peoples Congress (APC) candidate Mr. Shittu Ibrahim was earlier proclaimed the victor of the March 18 state assembly election by INEC.

It stated that Ibrahim received 13,692 votes, defeating Julius Okedoyin, a candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who received 13,422 votes.

Okedoyin and the PDP complained to the tribunal about the decision, claiming there had been excessive voting, irregularities, and a violation of the electoral laws.

The tribunal determined that the petition had substance and that the petitioners had established their claims beyond a reasonable doubt in a decision made by a unanimous vote of its members under the chairmanship of Justice Jubril Anaja.

According to Anaja, the cancellation of the results from the constituency with 1,285 voter cards collected’s Ward 6 Unit 7 and Ward 11 Unit 19 could have a significant impact on the election’s outcome.

The tribunal stated that even while the declared winner in Ward 6 had a lead over the petitioner by 270 votes, more than 1,000 voters had their votes invalidated.

The tribunal claimed that if the more than 1,000 people INEC had prevented from voting in the impacted wards had been permitted to do so, the outcome might have been changed.

“The certificate of return given to the first respondent (Ibrahim) by INEC is accordingly revoked awaiting the outcome of the Saki West constituency’s rerun election.

Within 90 days, Anaja instructed INEC to hold new elections in Ward 6, Unit 7, and Ward 11, Unit 19.

Ibrahim’s attorney, Mr. Sikiru Adewoye, responded by stating that his client would challenge the tribunal’s ruling.

However, Mr. Yusuf Ogunrinde, the petitioners’ attorney, praised the panel for the ruling.

Re-voting has been mandated for the Saki West state seat by the National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Oyo State.

The state assembly election for the constituency held on March 18 was previously proclaimed by INEC to have been won by Mr. Shittu Ibrahim of the All Peoples Congress (APC).

It stated that Ibrahim received 13,692 votes, defeating Julius Okedoyin, the PDP candidate, who received 13,422 votes.

Okedoyin and the PDP headed to the tribunal after being dissatisfied with the verdict, claiming there had been excessive voting, irregularities, and a violation of the electoral laws.

The tribunal found that the petition had substance and that the petitioners had established their claims beyond a reasonable doubt in a decision that was unanimously issued by its chairman, Justice Jubril Anaja.

The revocation of the results from the constituency with 1,285 voter cards collected’s Ward 6 Unit 7 and Ward 11 Unit 19 could, according to Anaja, materially impact the election’s outcome.

Despite the declared winner having a 270-vote advantage over the petitioner in Ward 6, the tribunal highlighted that more than 1,000 voters were left without a vote.

The tribunal asserts that if the more than 1,000 voters INEC disenfranchised in the concerned wards had been permitted to cast ballots, the outcome might have been changed.

“The certificate of return issued by INEC to the first respondent (Ibrahim) is hereby set aside awaiting the rerun election to determine the victor for Saki West seat.

“INEC is hereby directed to conduct a rerun election in Ward 6, Unit 7 and Ward 11, Unit 19 within 90 days,” said Anaja.

In response, Ibrahim’s legal representative, Mr. Sikiru Adewoye, declared that his client will challenge the tribunal’s ruling.

Mr. Yusuf Ogunrinde, the attorney for the petitioners, did, nonetheless, praise the panel for its decision.