In a significant legal development, the Court of Appeal has nullified the election victory of Hon Shittu Ibrahim, the representative of Saki West State Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly. The court’s unanimous decision follows allegations of over-voting, irregularities, and non-compliance with electoral guidelines raised by Mr Julius Okedoyin of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his party.
The appellate court ruled that the petitioners, Okedoyin and the PDP, successfully proved their allegations beyond a reasonable doubt. Specifically, the cancellation of results from Ward 6 Unit 7 and Ward 11 Unit 19, where 1,285 voter cards were collected, was deemed to substantially affect the election outcome. Despite the declared winner leading by 270 votes in these wards, the tribunal observed that more than 1,000 voters were disenfranchised.
In response to the court’s decision, Hon Shittu Ibrahim approached the Appellate Court to overturn the ruling delivered by the Election Petition Tribunal in September. However, the Court of Appeal upheld the lower court judgment, instructing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the previously presented certificate and organize a re-run election in the affected polling units.
Aftermath:
Consequently, the Oyo State House of Assembly declared the seat of Hon Shittu Ibrahim vacant during its Tuesday plenary session. The Speaker, Rt Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, emphasized that, with the Court of Appeal’s decision, the two-thirds majority required for a quorum is now adjusted to 21 members.
This legal development adds a new layer of complexity to the political landscape in Saki West and raises questions about the implications for future elections in the constituency.
