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

<p>The National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Oyo State has ordered a re-run election for Saki West state constituency.</p>, <p>INEC had earlier declared Mr Shittu Ibrahim of the All Peoples Congress (APC) as winner of the state assembly election for the constituency held on March 18.</p>, <p>It declared that Ibrahim scored 13,692 votes to defeat the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Julius Okedoyin, who scored 13,422 votes.</p>, <p>Dissatisfied with the declaration, Okedoyin and the PDP headed to the tribunal alleging over-voting, irregularities and non-compliance with electoral guidelines.</p>, <p>In a unanimous ruling delivered by its chairman, Justice Jubril Anaja, the tribunal held that the petition had merit and that the petitioners proved their allegations beyond reasonable doubt.</p>, <p>Anaja ruled that the cancellation of results from Ward 6 Unit 7 and Ward 11 Unit 19 of the constituency with 1,285 voter cards collected, could substantially affect the outcome of the election.</p>, <p>The tribunal noted that whereas the declared winner led the petitioner by 270 votes in Ward 6, the number of voters disenfranchised was more than 1,000.</p>, <p>According to the tribunal, the more than 1,000 voters disenfranchised by INEC in the affected wards might have over-turned the result if they were allowed to vote.</p>, <p>“The certificate of return issued to the first respondent (Ibrahim) by INEC is hereby set aside pending the re-run election to determine the winner of the election for Saki West constituency.</p>, <p>“INEC is hereby ordered to conduct a re-run election in Ward 6, Unit 7 and Ward 11, Unit 19 within 90 days,’’ Anaja declared.</p>, <p>Reacting, Ibrahim’s counsel, Mr Sikiru Adewoye, said his client will file an appeal against the judgment of the tribunal.</p>, <p>However, the petitioners’ counsel, Mr Yusuf Ogunrinde, commended the tribunal for the judgement.</p>