The Ondo State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has commenced a full hearing into the petitions challenging the victory of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the November 16, 2024, governorship election.
The petitions were filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Agboola Ajayi, alongside other parties, including the Action Alliance (AA) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
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At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the AA’s counsel, Adebayo Adewole, called his only witness, Adekunle Rufai, a septuagenarian who identified himself as a traditionalist and the National Chairman of the party.
Rufai, after adopting his witness statement on oath, alleged that INEC awarded votes to Aiyedatiwa and the All Progressives Congress (APC). While acknowledging that the AA secured only 58 votes, he insisted that APC’s votes were manipulated. However, when asked about the actual votes for the APC, he stated that he could only determine the figures if the election had been free and fair.
He further contended that Omolere Akinuli, whose name appeared on the ballot as the AA governorship candidate, was imposed on the party by INEC, claiming that he was not the party’s authentic candidate.
Meanwhile, the SDP also opened its case against Governor Aiyedatiwa, INEC, and the APC, alleging that the election was marred by irregularities. However, the party faced legal challenges when its counsel, Adebayo Adewole, sought to withdraw its first witness from the petition, citing her inability to speak English fluently.
Reacting to the development, Tribunal Chairman, Justice Benson Ogbu, noted that the SDP had 14 witnesses to present and subsequently adjourned the hearing till Friday for further proceedings.
