Barring any hitch, the Court of Appeal in Akure, the Ondo state capital will on Thursday, June 3 hear the appeal filed by the candidate of the PDP, Eyitayo Jegede against the tribunal judgement which affirmed the victory of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the Ondo October 10 governorship election.
Jegede had approached the appellate Court to challenge the ruling of the Election Tribunal, which dismissed his case in entirety because it was flawed and lacked merit.
The Precision NG reports that the PDP candidate is challenging the nomination of Akeredolu by the Caretaker Chairman of the APC, Mai Mala Buni, on the grounds that the Yobe state governor, lacks the constitutional power to be party chairman while holding an executive position.
Akeredolu, Aiyedatiwa, APC and INEC had however faulted the arguments of Jegede and the PDP on the grounds that their case was a preelection matter and internal affairs of the APC which the tribunal had no jurisdiction to entertain.
While the tribunal ruled that it had jurisdiction to entertain the case, it however struck it out saying evidences confirmed that Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa were properly nominated by the APC.
Our correspondent gathered that Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa, INEC and the APC have also filed cross appeals to challenge the ruling of the Tribunal to assume jurisdiction over the case.
It was also gathered that the Court has adopted Virtual Hearing through Zoom for the appeals.
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