By Charles Abere.
The flag bearer of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the June 18 governorship election in Ekiti State, Engr. Segun Oni, has submitted his petition against the outcome of the election.
Oni who arrived the secretariat of Election Petitions Tribunal, Ado Ekiti, on the evening of Thursday, 7th July, 2022, said he’s challenging the result because he believes he won.
Speaking with journalists shortly after filing the petition, the candidate explained that the reason why such move was made was to defend the sanctity of the system.
“By the time you go through the contents, you would know what we are saying”
When asked the ground of challenging the outcome of the election, the former Governor declined, saying he wouldn’t go through that.
In his words, “but I have told you one thing and that’s all I want to tell you that when it’s lay bare, you will know that we are doing all these to defend the sanctity of the system”.
Corroborating Segun Oni’s stand on the petition was the former Attorney-General of Ekiti State, Barrister Obafemi Adewale (SAN), who explained that the petition is now a public document which according to him has been presented at the tribunal and that the public now have access to it.
According to the legal luminary, “If he felt the election was free and fair, he wouldn’t be challenging the result. If he didn’t think he won the election freely and fairly, he wouldn’t be challenging the result of the election”.
Explaining further, Barrister Adewale said the candidate was at the tribunal because he wants justice done in accordance with the law, because he believes that he won majority of the lawful votes at the election but was not declared as the winner of the election.
“The candidate believes that the person who was declared winner didn’t win majority of the lawful votes cast. He also believes that the person who was declared winner may not even have been competent at the point of election to even participate in the election”. Adewale explained.
In the entourage of the candidate to the tribunal were; Barr. Owoseni Ajayi, Mr. Femi Ogele, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, the Director General of his Campaign Organization, Ambassador Dare Bejide, Mr. Idowu Adelusi and several other supporters.
