A’Court reserves judgment on Ekiti gov poll

The Court of Appeal, Ado Ekiti, on Monday reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the All Progressives Congress against the victory of Governor Ayodele Fayose, in the June 21, 2014 Ekiti governorship election.

The five- member panel, chaired by Justice Abdu Aboki, adjourned for judgment after all parties in the appeal adopted their briefs of argument.

The Ekiti Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal had on December 19, 2014, upheld Fayose’s victory and dismissed the APC’s petition.

The appellant is challenging the victory of Fayose on the grounds that he was not qualified to stand election as a candidate because of his impeachment of October 16, 2006.

The APC also alleged that the governor forged his academic certificates and violated the Code of Conduct Rules.

Adopting his brief of argument, the counsel to the petitioner, Hakeem Afolabi (SAN), urged the Court to allow the appeal and grant all the reliefs sought by the appellants.

Afolabi argued that the reason given by the tribunal contravened Section 138 (a) of the Electoral Act, insisting that there was no time limit to raise an issue that borders on qualification of a candidate.

...Punch