The Ondo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has commenced full hearing into the petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, its candidate, Agboola Ajayi challenging the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the November 16th, 2024 governorship election in Ondo State.
Also challenging Aiyedatiwa’s Victory were the Action Alliance, AA and the Social Democratic Party SDP and its candidate among others.
On resumption of hearing on Thursday, the AA counsel, Adebayo Adewole called his only witness, Adekunle Rufai to prove his petitions before the Tribunal.
After adopting his statement on oath as a witness in chief to the petition, the septuagenarian said he was traditionalist and the national Chairman of the party, AA.
During the cross examination, Rufai who affirmed that his party scored 58 votes, however claimed that APC and Aiyedatiwa’s Votes in the election were awarded to them.
When asked what should have been the actual votes for the APC, the witness said he would have been able to know aiyedatiwa’s votes if the election was free and fair and was allowed to participate in the election.
He told the panel that the governorship candidate, Omolere Akinuli whose name appeared on the ballot paper was the candidate of the party.
According to Rufai, Akinuli was not the authentic candidate of the Action Alliance in the governorship election but a candidate imposed on the Party by INEC.
The SDP which also opened its case against governor Aiyedatiwa, INEC and APC on the ground that election was marred with malpractices.
Counsel to the SDP, Adebayo Adewole however faced serious arguments on point of law from counsels to other respondents when he made an application to withdraw his first witness from the Petition because she claimed she could not speak English language fluently.
Reacting, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Benson Ogbu who indicated that the SDP had 14 witnesses to call , however adjourned siting till Friday for Continuation of hearing.
