The election petitions tribunal sitting in Akure has declared the March 18th, 2023 Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo Constituency of Ondo state house of assembly election inconclusive.

The tribunal subsequently ordered rerun election in six, out of the 27 polling units being challenged by the PDP Candidate, of the entire 191 polling units in the Constituency.

This followed a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Candidate, Babatunde Fadare against the election of Hon. Nelson Akinsuroju of the All Progressives Congress APC in the state Constituency.

Akinsuroju of the All Progressives Congress was announced winner by INEC, after polling a total number of 10,207 votes, to beat the PDP candidate who polled 9,287 votes.

The Peoples Democratic Party PDP Candidate, Babatunde Fadare had petitioned the Tribunal, challenging the outcome of the election on the grounds that the election was not valid for non-compliance with electoral laws and that Nelson Akinsuroju was not duly elected for not getting the highest lawfully votes cast.

The petitioner also urged the court to declare the election inconclusive and order INEC to conduct supplementary election in the 6 affected units where election were disrupted.

The petitioner also joined INEC and APC as respondents in the petition.

The three-man panel led by the Chairman, Rose Soji, on Tuesday ordered for a rerun in 6 affected polling units in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo local government area of Ondo State.

Reacting, counsel to Akinsuroju, Remi Olatubora SAN, represented by Barrister Olumide Ogidan said the judgement was one sided as it is based on morality of the case and not competence of the results. 

He further added that the judgment shall be studied and shall be appealed within the stipulated timeframe, as stated in the Electoral Act of 2022.

Also addressing his constituents, Hon. Nelson Akinsuroju called for calm and enjoined the people of Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo State Constituency to be hopeful as the judgment shall be appealed through his legal team.

Akinsuroju added that, their mandate would be protected for them, to ensure that they continue to enjoy the dividends of their democracy which they have been enjoying for over 4 months.