Gov Election Crisis: Akeredolu Loses at Supreme Court

Ololade Adeyanju/

Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has lost a round in the battle to retain his seat today, as the Supreme Court dismissed his appeal for lack of merit.

Akeredolu had challenged a July 2017 judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which upheld an order by a Federal High Court in Abuja, granting permission to Olusegun Abraham to serve Akeredolu through substituted means, court documents in relation to the suit he (Abraham) filed.

Abraham’s suit is challenging the outcome of the primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which produced Akeredolu as the party’s candidate for the last governorship election in Ondo State.

In a unanimous judgment, a five-man panel of the Supreme Court held that Akeredolu’s appeal was without merit.

Justice John Okoro, in the lead judgment, read by Justice Ejembi Eko, upheld the earlier decision of the Court of Appeal and awarded N500,000 cost against Akeredolu, in favour of Abraham.