Tribunal Upholds Oyebanji’s Victory As Ekiti Governor

Ekiti Governorship election petitions tribunal, on Thursday, upheld Biodun Oyebanji’s victory at the governorship election held in June 2022.

Gatekeepers News reports that Oyebanji, who contested under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared the winner of the election after winning 15 of the 16 LGAs in the State.

The former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) secured 187,057 votes, defeating Segun Oni who polled 82,211 votes, and Bisi Kolawole of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 67,457 votes.

Oni, who was not satisfied with the outcome of the election, filed a petition against Oyebanji and the APC before a three-member tribunal chaired by Wilfred Kpochi.

Oni had claimed in his petition that Oyebanji’s election was characterised by irregularities.

He also argued that it was wrong for the Mai Mala Buni-led APC leadership to have supervised the primary that produced Oyebanji as the governorship candidate.

Additionally, he alleged that Monisade Afuye, now Ekiti deputy governor, presented fake WAEC results to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Delivering the judgment on Thursday, the panel dismissed Oni’s petition.

Kpochi, chairman of the tribunal, held that Oni failed to prove the allegations against the respondents.

“The validity of the certificate or qualification of the 5th respondent (Afuye) remains unhurt,” the judge held.

“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.”