Tribunal sacks Osunsanya, Ogun APC Rep member – TheNigerialawyer

…Orders rerun in three wards within 90 days

The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in
Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Monday, nullified the election
of Kolapo Korede Osunsanya, representing Ijebu Central federal
constituency in the House of Representatives on the platform of All
Progressives Congress (APC).

It also ordered a rerun election in three wards within 90
days.

The Ijebu Central federal constituency consists of three local
government areas namely Ijebu Ode, Ijebu North East and
Odogbolu.

The Hon Justice Wakkil Alkali Gana-led election petition
tribunal canceled elections in Ward 5, Unit 5 in Ijebu Ode LGA,
Ward 10, Unit 3 in Odogbolu LGA and the entire Ward 8 in Ijebu
North-East LGA in the constituency.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Taiwo Shote, had
filed a petition challenging Osunsanya’s declaration as winner of
the election declared by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) on the February 23, 2019, election.

The tribunal in its judgement ordered that since the margin of
lead and difference between the petitioner and 1st respondent was
less than 4,000 and the total number of canceled votes was 8,800,
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ought not to
have declared Osunsanya as the winner of the election in line with
the provisions of the Electoral Act.

It further held that the electoral commission should have
declared the election inconclusive and held a rerun in the affected
wards and polling units.

Consequently, the tribunal declared that Osunsanya was not duly
elected and nullified the Certificate of Return issued to him by
INEC and ordered that a rerun should be conducted within 90
days.

Reacting to the judgment, Shote described it as a victory for
the rule of law.

“I am very delighted at the judgment just delivered. I am happy
that justice has been served. Although the wheel of justice grinds
slowly, it grinds steadily and surely. It is a victory for the rule
of law and good people of Ijebu Central federal constituency.

I thank God and the good people of Ijebu Ode, Ijebu North East
and Odogbolu local government areas for their unflinching support
thus far, and I promise not to disappoint them,” he submitted.

Meanwhile, the tribunal upheld the election victories of Senator
Tolu Odebiyi (APC) and Hon. Jimoh Ojugbele (APC) of Ogun West
senatorial district and Ota federal constituency, respectively.

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