Tomorrow is judgment day at the Oyo State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ibadan, in the Oyo South Senatorial District case filed by former Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC), questioning the victory of Sen. Kola Balogun of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23, 2019 National Assembly elections.
Palpable anxiety has gripped the camps of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state due to fear of the unknown, Mega Icon Magazine gathered.
This came as the tribunal in Ibadan, the state capital last Saturday affirmed the electoral victories of Hon. Olaide Musliudeen Akinremi, popularly known as ‘Jagaban’, representing Ibadan North Federal constituency, Hon Tolu Akande Sadipe (Oluyole Federal Constituency) and Hon. Oluyemi Taiwo (Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency) respectively.
Meanwhile, Sen. Balogun at the national assembly election defeated his closest rival, Sen Abiola Ajimobi, with a vote difference of 13,141
The PDP candidate scored a total of 105,720 votes while the candidate of the APC secured 92,579 votes as declared by the Returning Officer, Prof Kolawole Akinsola of the University of Ibadan.
Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, the APC’s candidate, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi and his party had approached the panel to sought legal redress, contesting the declaration of Sen. Kola Balogun of the PDP as winner of the polls.
Ajimobi alleged that there were a number of grievous infractions and established electoral malpractices, calling for cancellation of unlawful votes in some polling units in the senatorial district as well as rerun in these units.
However, the only possible rulings on the matter billed for tomorrow are rerun election outrightly or in specific units/wards challenged or Balogun retaining the mandate.
The tribunal sitting by 9am tomorrow, as gathered, is expected to enjoy tight security.
