RABI’UL-THANI 29, 1429 A.H
TUESDAY, MAY 6 2008
Print This Page 
Tribunal nullifies Akogun's election
The Edo state Election Tribunal has nullified the election of Col. Babatunde Akogun (rtd) as a member of the House of Representatives representing Akoko-Edo.
The nullification of the election of Akogu (PDP), followed a petition by Ms Jemitola Elizabeth who vied for the same seat on ANPP ticket.
The tribunal presided over by Justice Beatrice Iliya, in a four hour judgment on at the weekend, held that election did not hold in seven wards in the constituency.
It said there was no reliable oral or documentary evidence to show that electoral materials were supplied to wards 3, 4, 6, 7,8, 9 and 10.
Also, the tribunal declared the 52,853 votes purported to be total votes cast in the election as invalid.
It rejected the testimony of the Electoral Officer that 39,689 ballot papers were missing as a result of the movement of election materials from Benin to Abuja for the hearing of the presidential election petition.
The Tribunal directed INEC to organise fresh election in the constituency within 90 days.
The tribunal held that to discharge the evidential burden that the exercise did not hold, the petitioner called 30 witnesses and tendered 40 exhibits, which it relied upon.
