Makinde Hires Legal Team to Defend PDP in Ibadan North Election Petition
By Afolabi Nelson
Governor Seyi Makinde has hired a team of lawyers led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Tunji Ogunrinde to defend the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the August 16, 2025, House of Representatives by election for Ibadan North Federal Constituency before the Election Petition Tribunal in Ibadan.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) filed a petition challenging the victory of PDP candidate Hon. Sunday Oyekunle Folajimi, claiming the election violated the Electoral Act 2022. The SDP asked the tribunal to nullify the result and order a fresh or supplementary election in the affected polling units.
In response, Ogunrinde filed a preliminary objection, arguing that the petition was incompetent for failing to meet the requirements of the Electoral Act. He urged the tribunal to dismiss it, describing it as baseless, frivolous, and without merit.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, the tribunal urged all parties and their counsels to cooperate and adjourned the case to Thursday, March 16, 2025.
