Tribunal Nullifies Election of APC Rep in Ogun

THE National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta has nullified the election of Kolapo Osunsanya of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Ijebu Central Federal Constituency in House of Representatives.

The Tribunal led by Justice Wakkil Alkali Gana in a unanimous judgement on Monday cancelled 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 Federal Constituency.

The Tribunal held that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was wrong to have declared Osunsanya as the winner of the election in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, since the margin of lead and difference between the petitioner and 1st respondent is less than 4,000 and the total number of cancelled votes is 8,800.

It argued that the electoral commission should have declared the election as inconclusive and held rerun in the affected Ward and polling units and consequently 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 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.

Taiwo Shore of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had approached the Tribunal to challenge the victory of Osunsanya at the February 23 National Assembly election.