The state assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo state, has ordered a re-run election for the Saki west house of assembly seat.
Shittu Ibrahim of the All Progressive People’s Party (APC) had won the House of Assembly seat of the Saki West Constituency at the March 2023 election.
Ibrahim acheived this feat by defeating Julius Okedoyin of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)after scoring 13,692 over Okedoyin’s 13,422. He led by 270 votes.
Okedoyin and PDP dissatisfied with results filed a petition to challenge the outcome of the election alleging over-voting, irregularity and non-compliance with electoral guidelines.
In a unanimously verdict delivered by its chairman, Justice Jubril Anaja, the tribunal held that the petition had merit and that the petitioners proved their allegations beyond reasonable doubt.
Anaja ruled that the cancellation of results from Ward 6 Unit 7 and Ward 11 Unit 19 of the constituency with 1,285 voter cards collected, could significantly affect the outcome of the election.
The tribunal noted that since the declared winner led the petitioner by 270 votes in Ward 6, the number of voters disenfranchised surpassed 1000.
According to the tribunal, the more than 1,000 voters disenfranchised by INEC in the affected wards might have tipped the outcome in favour of any of the contestants.
“The certificate of return issued to the first respondent (Ibrahim) by INEC is hereby set aside pending the re-run election to determine the winner of the election for Saki west constituency,” the tribunal said.
“INEC is hereby ordered to conduct a re-run election in Ward 6, Unit 7 and Ward 11, unit 19 within 90 days.”