Oyo Guber Poll: Governor Makinde Knows Fate Today As Tribunal Delivers Judgement

The Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ibadan will today, deliver judgment in a petition seeking to upturn the election of Engr. Seyi Makinde as Governor of Oyo State, Igbere TV reports. Igbere TV reports that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Bayo Adelabu, are challenging the victory of Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 9, 2019 poll. The APC and its candidate are alleging that Makinde of the PDP was not “elected by lawful votes”, insisting that the election was marred with “wide violence” and “massive rigging”. But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is urging the Tribunal to dismiss the petition for “lacking in substance” and being “grossly unmeritorious.” INEC said that the petitioners erroneously put the burden of proof on the Commission, “whereas the responsibility of proof lies on the petitioners”. The electoral umpire also claimed that majority of the 38 witnesses called by the petitioners confirmed that the March 9 guber poll conducted by it complied strictly with the Electoral Act. The three-man panel of justices of the Governorship Election Tribunal which is expected to deliver judgment today, is led by Justice Sirajo Muhammed, as Chairman, reports Igbere TV.