The Independent National Electoral Commission withdrew the Certificate of Return issued to Sina Akinwumi (APC), previously sworn in to represent Okitipupa Constituency II in the House of Assembly of Ondo State.
The certificate was awarded to James Ololade-Gbegudu, also from the APC, on Tuesday, having been declared as the winner of the House of Assembly elections of the party held in October 2018.
Despite the primary results, Mr Akinwumi has been proclaimed the candidate of the party for the election.
The withdrawal of the certificate was on the strength of the court prayers of Mr Ololade-Gbegudu, seeking to be declared the APC’s genuine candidate in the March 9, 2019 election.
Presenting the Certificate of Return to Mr Ololade-Gbegudu at the committee headquarters in Akure, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner said that a letter had been given to Mr Akinwumi to vacate the seat in the House of Assembly with immediate effect, while theCertifiate of Return previously given to him had been withdrawn since then.
“The Speaker and the Clerk of the state House of Assembly have been ordered through a letter to comply with the judgement and swear in Gbegudu as a member of the Assembly,” he said.
Mr Ololade-Gbegudu said in his response that he was pleased that justice had been done and that after several months of injustice the reality had prevailed.
He pledged to devote himself to serving his constituents.
