The tribunal handling the petitions arising from the 16 November Ondo State governorship election has scheduled 4 June for its verdict.
The three-member panel, chaired by Justice Benson Ogbu, fixed the date on Saturday in Akure after listening to the final submissions of all parties involved.
The panel also includes Justice Imelda Etape and Justice Sikka Duarabo.
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The tribunal commenced proceedings on 31 January 2025 and has reviewed five separate petitions challenging the election outcome.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the winner of the poll.
The petitions, which call for the nullification of the election over alleged widespread violations of the Electoral Act, were filed by several political parties and their candidates.
These include the Action Alliance and its flagbearer, Abdullahi Olowokere; the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Bamidele Akingboye; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Agboola Ajayi; the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Kolawole Ogunfeyimi; and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) represented by Adeyemi Nejo.
The respondents in the case include the APC, Aiyedatiwa, his running mate Olayide Adelami, and INEC.
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Representing the PDP, counsel Ishaka Dikko and Bankole Akomolafe contended that the poll was riddled with serious breaches of the Electoral Act and urged the tribunal to revoke Aiyedatiwa’s certificate of return.
However, the defence team—comprising Chief Wole Olanipekun, Tayo Oyetibo, and Charles Edosomwan—called for the dismissal of all petitions, describing them as baseless and without merit.
