SDP, Oni file petitions to challenge APC’s Oyebanji victory in Ekiti election

Among the grounds contained in the petition are allegations that the election was marred by irregularities, violence, voters intimidation, and inducement among others.

Tosin Ajuwon • July 7, 2022

Segun Oni

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate in the June 18 Ekiti governorship election, Segun Oni, have filed a petition at the Election Petition Tribunal to challenge the declaration of Biodun Oyebanji as the winner of the election.

The development came barely three weeks after the poll.

Mr Oyebanji, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of the governorship election by Independent National Electoral Commission.

The commission said he scored 187, 057 votes to defeat Mr Oni, his closest challenger, in the keenly contested exercise.

Mr Oni, polled 82,211, while Bisi Kolawole of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who came third in the governorship election, scored 67, 457 votes, the electoral body had announced.

Peoples Gazette learned that the petitions was submitted, on Thursday evening.

The “over one thousand pages petition”, was received by the secretary of the tribunal, Umar Abubakar.

It was gathered that part of the grounds contained in the petition are allegations that the election was marred by irregularities, violence, voters intimidation, and inducement among others.

Mr Oni was accompanied by his counsel, Owoseni Ajayi, and Morakinyo Ogele, to the Ekiti State High Court Complex, at Fajuyi Park, in Ado Ekiti, which will be used as the secretariat of the Election Petitions Tribunal.

Others on his entourage also included the Director-General of his Campaign Organisation, Dare Bejide.

Jackson Adebayo, a spokesperson for Mr Oni, confirmed the development to The Gazette in a phone chat.

“Yes, he (Oni) has filed the petition with the SDP as a political party in the election.

“But details would be made known by tomorrow (Friday)”, Mr Adebayo added.

Recall that the President of the Court of Appeal, Monica Dongban-Mensem, had set up the tribunal to hear and determine petitions arising from the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State.

Mrs Dongban-Mensem had stated that the action was pursuant to Section 285 (ii) and (iii) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 130 of the Electoral Act, 2022

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted the June 18 governorship election exercise.

Sixteen political parties fielded candidates for the election.

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