The Chairman of the Ondo State House of Representatives Primary Election Committee, Hon. Iboroma Dabibi Harry, told the Federal High Court in Abuja that he declared Engr. Razaq Obe—not Hon. Festus Akingbaso—as the winner of the primary election conducted on May 16, 2026, for the Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency.
Counsel to the Plaintiff, Dr. Remi Olatubora, SAN, tendered an affidavit sworn to by Hon. Harry at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, on August 4, 2026. In the affidavit, Hon. Harry presented the authentic results he signed and declared, while discrediting the purported certified true copy of the primary election results bearing a forged imitation of his signature, allegedly emanating from the Party’s National Secretariat. The Learned Silk challenged the authenticity of the so‑called “certified true copy,” noting that it lacked the name of any certifying officer and was merely signed by “Directorate of Organization,” which does not identify a natural person. He urged the Court to disregard the document.
Dr. Olatubora also exhibited the certified true copy of the suit filed on June 29, 2026, by an aspirant who participated in the primary against Engr. Razaq Obe. He argued that the aspirant would not have proceeded against someone who was never declared winner by the Primary Election Committee.
Additionally, affidavits sworn by the collation officers for Idanre and Ifedore LGAs—Mr. Adelanke Agboola and Mr. Richard Adeyemi—were tendered. Both officers affirmed that they did not sign the results presented by Hon. Akingbaso, which bore their forged signatures, but rather the authentic results declared in favor of Engr. Obe.
Thereafter, counsel for the Party and Hon. Akingbaso strongly opposed the playing of a video recording in which the votes scored by each candidate were announced by the Federal Constituency Returning Officer, Mr. Bright Olawande Akindojutimi, at the Official Collation Center, Premier Hotel, Igbara Oke. However, Dr. Olatubora’s argument prevailed. When played, the video clearly showed Engr. Razaq Obe securing 4,988 votes against Hon. Festus Akingbaso’s 1,409 votes. These figures corroborated the results declared by Hon. Iboroma Harry.
The defence counsel appeared more focused on technicalities than substance and failed to provide any evidence showing how they won.
The matter has been adjourned by Hon. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik to October 16, 2026, for ruling.