Sequel to the judgement of the Ondo State High Court, the Independent National Electoral Commission has withdrawn the Certificate of Return issued to Mr. Sina Akinwumi, an All Progressives Congress lawmaker, who had earlier been declared the winner of the March 9, 2019, House of Assembly election, in Okitipupa constituency II.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/idrinstitute.png")
Akinwumi was sacked by the court last month on the grounds that he did not win the primary of the party. The court however declared James Ololade-Gbegudu of the same party as the winner the primary, held in October 2018.
Ololade-Gbegudu had approached the court through his counsel, Mr Femi Emodamori, to seek an order to compel the party and INEC to recognize him as the authentic APC candidate for the constituency and not Sina Akinwunmi, having won the party’s primary.
To this end, the court ordered the electoral commission to issue him ( Ololade-Gbegudu) the Certificate of Return as the representative of the constituency.
Presenting the certificate of return to Ololade-Gbegudu at the Commission’s headquarters, Alagbaka-Akure, the INEC Chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmood said a letter had been issued to Akinwumi to vacate the seat at House of Assembly with immediate effect while the Certificate of Return earlier issued to him had since been withdrawn.
Represented by the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Dr Akeju, Professor Mahmood disclosed that “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.”
Commenting on the development, Ololade-Gbegudu, who expressed delight on the development, said the truth had prevailed after several months of injustice.
He promised to serve his constituents diligently.
Contact & Orders 📞 0704 444 4777 | 0704 444 4999 | 0818 199 9888 🌐 www.alexandernigeria.com
______________________________________________________________________
The books are available for purchase at:
Online: www.educodex.com | www.selar.com | www.amazon.com | www.mikeozekhome.com
Enquiries: +234 704 044 9375 | +234 814 813 4773 | +234 816 872 3532
Email: educodexl@gmail.com
______________________________________________________________________
“History of Rivers State Judiciary: A Compendium of Personalities on the Bench.” Authored by Ampim Gogo Blankson, Esq., Deputy Director at the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the Rivers State Judiciary
💰 Cover Price: ₦20,000.00 (Twenty Thousand Naira)
Bukky Law Books, Rivers State High Court Complex, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt – 📞 08034868754📞 08034729738📞 Enquiries
______________________________________________________________________
Explore Nigeria’s Constitutional System — 17 Chapters, 924 Pages Of Insight By Prof. Hagler Sunny Okorie
