BREAKING: Ekiti Tribunal throws out Segun Oni’s suit challenging Gov Oyebanji

The Ekiti State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ado Ekiti has thrown out a suit filed by a governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the June 18 governorship election, Segun Oni challenging Governor Biodun Oyebanji.

The court, in its judgement on Thursday delivered by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, threw out Mr Oni’s case and affirmed that all certificates presented by Monisade Afuye, now Deputy Governor belong to her and all are genuine.

Justice Kpochi also struck out Gov Mai Mala-Buni issues who signed the nomination form that it’s a pre-election matter and that Tribunal has no jurisdiction to entertain it.

“Challenging the candidacy of Oyebanji can be done by the members of the same political party.

The validity of the certificate or qualification of the 5th respondent (Afuye) remains unhurt. The petitioners have been unable to prove that she presented a forged certificate.”

We dismiss the issue of corrupt practices in the election. The appellants did not call any witness from any polling unit or ward.”

Recall the former governor of the state, Segun Oni who is the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), had filed a petition against the winner of the election, Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging that he scored the highest number of valid votes and APC didn’t have a governorship candidate.

Oni said the Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala-Buni who signed the nomination form of Oyebanji and who was also superintendent over the APC governorship primaries contravened section 183 of the 1999 Constitution by accepting to be the APC National Caretaker Chairman.

He said section 183 of the 1999 Constitution stated explicitly that a sitting governor shall not accept any other executive position while in office.

Oni also said Mrs Monisade Afuye now Deputy governor presented fake WAEC results to the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).

Oni’s counsel, Mr Owoseeni Ajayi told the tribunal that according to Section 136 of the Evident Act, the burden of proof was on Mrs Afuye to defend herself against the allegation and since she refused to come to the tribunal to clear herself of the allegation, her quietness and refusal to defend herself of the allegation is an admission of guilt in law.

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