The Federal Court of Appeal, sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has struck out the petition filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Eyitayo Jegede, against the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer, Rotimi Akeredolu, in the October 10, 2020 governor election.
The lead Counsel to the PDP candidate, Oyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN, had earlier approached the Appeal Court, claiming that the APC candidate’s nomination was not constitutional.
The election petition tribunal led by Justice Umar Abubakar that sat on the case had via a virtual platform ruled on April 20 2021 that the qualification of the APC candidate and his deputy was not a pre-election matter, but a constitutional matter, which was not within its jurisdiction.
Justice Abubakar ruled that “The issue raised therein in this petition are settled issues of internal affairs and Management of a political party which this tribunal has no jurisdiction.”
The position of the tribunal is in line with the argument of the counsel of Akeredolu, the APC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Subsequently, counsel to Jegede, not satisfied with the tribunal judgment, approached the Court of Appeal insisting that the case was not a pre-election matter.
