The Local Government Election Petition Tribunal has been constituted by the Ondo state judiciary in line with relevant local government electoral law.
Report however indicates that the Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission, ODIEC, has allegedly refused to release the result for Igbara-Oke ward 1 councillorship re-run election.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), had earlier last week charged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to immediately set up a Local Government Election Tribunal for the Igbara-Oke Ward 1 Councillorship rerun Election in Ifedore local government area which was conducted on the 10th of this month by ODIEC.
In a petition to the governor and the state Chief Judge, counsel to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr Femi Emodamori, said the party was ready to challenge the outcome of the rerun election in line with Section 88 of the Local Government Election and Allied Matters Law (2006).
The lawyer said the governor was required by the said Law to set up the election Tribunal in consultation with the Chief Judge, while Section 89 thereof stipulates that an election petition shall be presented to the Tribunal by any aggrieved party/candidate within 14 days from the date of which the election result is declared.
Also, the lawyer to the ADC candidate, Barr Femi Emodamori had earlier raised alarm that, “On 16th November, 2021, we wrote a letter to Mr. Governor on the need to immediately set up a Local Government Election Tribunal, in order to allow the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Mr. OJo Busola, her candidate in the Igbara-Oke Ward 1 Councillorship rerun Election held on 10th November, 2021 challenge the purported result of the Election as declared by Ondo State Independent Electoral Commission (ODIEC) on Thursday, 11 November, 2021.
“Up until date, Mr. Governor has not set up the Tribunal, but we are sure His Excellency would not derelict his statutory duty in that regard, and that he would set up the Tribunal in line with Section 88 of the Local Government Administration, Conduct of Local Government Election and Allied Matters Law, Cap. 87, Vol. 2, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
It is however more shocking for the public to know that ODIEC has actually failed to even give our client a copy of the purported result it declared, seven days after the declaration.
“Mr. Ojo Busola (our client) had to personally write the Chairman of ODIEC to request for a copy of the result, which under the Law should have been given to him and other candidates immediately upon its announcement by ODIEC.”
However speaking with newsmen on Tuesday, Emodamori said “I’ve just received confirmation that the local government election petition tribunal has been constituted for Igbara-Oke ward 1 councillorship re-run election but as we speak now, 23rd November, 2021, ODIEC has not given my client a copy of what he declared as their result of the election.”
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