Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed the appeal filed by Eyitayo Jegede of Peoples Democratic Party, challenging the election of Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
The dismissal on Wednesday by the apex court in Abuja brings to an end the contentions which followed the October 10, 2020, Ondo governorship election.
Akeredolu, All Progressives Congress’ candidate, was pronounced re-elected by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the ballots were counted, but PDP and its candidate disagreed and went to the tribunal.
However, Akeredolu won at the tribunal and the Court of Appeal.
Court of Appeal led by Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua dismissed the petition filed by Jegede while affirming Akeredolu as the winner of the poll.
In its verdict, the Appeal Court had out of seven issues raised for determination, resolved four and half in favour of Jegede and the rest two and a half in favour of Akeredolu.
Not satisfied with the decision of the Appellate Court, Jegede approached the Supreme Court for the invalidation of both the Election Petition Tribunal and Appeal Court judgements.
However, in the majority judgment, four of the justices of the apex court upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal and Ondo State Governorship Election Petition.
The apex court thereby dismissed the appeal for lack of merit.
The seven-member of the apex court led by Mary Odili had adjourned till noon on Wednesday after listening to the arguments of all the lawyers of parties in the case.
Upon resumption from the two hours recess, the court dismissed the petition with four judges upholding Akeredolu’s victory against the dissenting judgement of three other justices.
Reacting to the court’s decision, Mr Akeredolu described the judgment as an act of God and thanked the judiciary for standing by the truth, advising his opponent to join hands with him to move the state forward.
PDP in Ondo State, however, said the seven justices of the court agreed that there was a violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
