The 2020 Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal today held its inaugural sitting in Akure and granted the Govenorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Eyitayo Jegede the leeway to inspect the materials used for the October 10 Election where Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu was reelected.
The Tribunal headed by Justice Umar Abubakar also granted an order for substituted service to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
In an exparte order, Justice Abubakar who led other two judges of the tribunal granted the orders moved by one of the counsel of Jegede, Jamiu Makinde.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Governor Akeredolu, as the winner of just concluded Ondo State Governorship election.
He beat his main challenger and candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Eyitayo Jegede, and his Deputy and candidate of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Agboola Ajayi, to emerge the winner.
He won 15 of the 18 Local Government Areas results declared by INEC while his closest rival, Jegede, won in three local government areas and Ajayi failed to win none, including his LGA where he lost to his principal.
Akeredolu polled 292,830, as against Jegede who garnered 195,791.
Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, Jegede approached the tribunal.
Among the grounds are that the election was marred by irregularities and pockets of violence as well as intimidation and faulty emergence of Akeredolu at the APC primaries.
Makinde had in the motion exparte sought an order to serve the defendants through substituted service by pasting on the petition on the notice board of the tribunal.
He also sought an order allowing access to materials used for the conduct of the October 10, governorship election and in custody of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He listed local councils in which electoral materials are to be accessed to include Owo, Eseodo, Ilaje, Okitipupa amongst others.
Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Umaru Abubakar, granted the order and said the petitioner could advertise the served processes in newspaper circulating within its jurisdiction.
Justice Abubakar also allowed the petitioner access to election materials in custody of INEC within the hours of 8am and 4pm for a period of five working days.
Counsel to Jegede, Jamiu Makinde had in the motion exparte sought an order to serve the defendants through substituted service by pasting on the petition on the notice board of the tribunal.
Makinde also sought an order allowing access to materials used for the conduct of the October 10, governorship election and in custody of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He listed local councils in which electoral materials are to be accessed to include Owo, Eseodo, Ilaje, Okitipupa amongst others.
Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Umaru Abubakar, granted the order and said the petitioner could advertise the served processes in newspaper circulating within its jurisdiction.
Justice Abubakar also allowed the petitioner access to election materials in custody of INEC within the hours of 8am and 4pm for a period of five working days.