The incumbent Governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will today know his fate as the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal delivers its final verdict on a petition,seeking to void his election victory of March 9, Gubernatorial election. The petition was filed by the All Progressive Congress and its governorship candidate, Bayo Adelabu
Bayo Adelabu and its party, APC have challenged the elections victory of Seyi Makinde making allegations that Makinde was “not elected by lawful votes” and also saying the March 9, Governorship poll was marred with “wide violence” and “massive rigging”.
But the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has told the Tribunal to dismiss the petition as it is “lacking in substance” and being “grossly unmeritorious”
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INEC said the petitioners saddled the commission with the responsibility of providing proofs, “whereas the responsibility of proof lies on the petitioners”.
The commission also made claims that most of the 38 witnesses called by Petitioners, have given confirmation that the March 9, Governorship Election was duly conducted as it followed due process, complying strictly with the Electoral Act.
The Panel of Judges of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Ibadan, is a three-man panel, led by Justice Sirajo Muhammed and is expected to deliver its verdict today