On Saturday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Shittu Ibrahim, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, the winner of the Saki West State Constituency rerun election for the Oyo House of Assembly.
Shittu defeated his closest rival, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Julius Okedoyin.
Shittu was already declared the winner of the March 18, 2023 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Shittu won with 13,692 votes against Okedoyin’s 13,422.
Okedoyin and the PDP filed an election petition with the tribunal, claiming anomalies, overvoting, and noncompliance.
In a unanimous decision handed in September 2023, a three-member tribunal led by Justice Jubril Anaja declared Shittu’s election invalid.
According to Anaja, the cancellation of results in Unit 7, Ward 6, and Unit 19, Ward 11 of the constituency, which collected 1,285 voter cards, could have a substantial impact on the election’s outcome.
The panel ruled that over 1,000 voters were disenfranchised, despite the fact that the winner and petitioner were separated by only 270 votes.
Shittu filed an appeal seeking to overturn the tribunal’s ruling.
However, in a decision issued in November 2023, the Court of Appeal affirmed the tribunal’s decision and ordered a repeat in the two polling units. It further asked INEC to remove Shittu’s certificate of return.
In Saturday’s repeat election, Shittu received 290 votes, while Okedoyin received 330.
The APC candidate received 200 votes in Unit 7, Ward 6, Odo Osun, defeating Okedoyin, who received 190 votes.
Shittu filed an appeal seeking to overturn the tribunal’s ruling.
However, in a decision issued in November 2023, the Court of Appeal affirmed the tribunal’s decision and ordered a repeat in the two polling units. It further asked INEC to remove Shittu’s certificate of return.
In Saturday’s repeat election, Shittu received 290 votes, while Okedoyin received 330.
The APC candidate received 200 votes in Unit 7, Ward 6, Odo Osun, defeating Okedoyin, who received 190 votes.
In Unit 19, Ward 11, Ogbalanja, Okedoyin received 143 votes, defeating Shittu, who received 90.