On Tuesday, the court of appeal confirmed Biodun Oyebanji, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for governor of Ekiti State in the June 18, 2022, general election.
Segun Oni, the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) candidate for governor, had contested Oyebanji’s election victory after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) proclaimed him the winner for receiving the most votes.
On Tuesday, a three-member panel declared that the appeal filed by Oni was without merit.
Hamma Barka, who read the lead judgement in the decisions delivered online through Zoom, concurred with the tribunal’s decision.
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Oni had claimed that Monisade Afuye, currently the deputy governor of Ekiti, had given the Independent National Electoral Commission false WAEC results (INEC).
Oni should have produced witnesses, such as a member of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) staff, to support his charges regarding the deputy governor’s alleged use of forged certificates, according to Barka, while all other points addressed were decided in the respondents’ favour.
After resolving all arguments in the appellant’s favour, the appeal was rejected for lack of merit.
The appellate court also granted the fourth and fifth respondents N200,000 in costs against the appellant.
