Akure (Ondo) - The election of the Nigeria Federal House of Representatives’ Majority Leader, and member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Colonel Tunde Akogun (Rtd), representing Akoko-Edo Federal constituency of Ondo State, has been nullified by the Edo State Elections Petition Tribunal headed by Justice Elizabeth Iliya.

The tribunal also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections in the constituency within the next 90 days.

The tribunal said it nullified the election because of irregularities and the absence of voting in several points in the Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency.

Delivering judgment in a petition filed by the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) candidate in the disputed 21 April, 2007 elections on Friday, Mrs. A.O. Jemitola, the tribunal chairman held that the petitioner discharged the onus of proof placed on her by law and as such the burden of proof shifted to the respondent who submitted that election took place in Akoko-Edo.

Justice Iliya said the petitioner adduced documentary evidence to show that election did not hold in seven of the 10 wards in the constituency, namely, wards 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. According to her, there were documents to show that electoral materials were supplied, but where they were supplied there were no result sheets.

Iliya further said that in certain areas where there were result sheets, such result sheets were not signed.

The tribunal condemned INEC’s inability to account for 39,689 missing ballot papers out of the 52,853 ballot papers which it supplied for the elections. It held that this inability to account for the missing ballot papers substantially affected the outcome of the elections in the constituency.

The tribunal, therefore, held that as a result of the irregularities and absence of voting in seven of the 10 wards, Akogun, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) did not score majority of the lawful votes cast in the election.

However, Akogun’s counsel, Mr. P.O. Ajanaku, said his client would appeal against the tribunal’s verdict.

Source: Nigerian Tribune

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