NASS Polls: Tribunal Dismisses 3 Petitions In Ekiti, Kwara

The National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ilorin,  Kwara State yesterday dismissed three petitions filed by aggrieved candidates to challenge the outcome of the National Assembly elections held on February 25,2023.

The tribunal in a judgement dismissed the petition filed by Senator Biodun Olujimi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the election of Senator Yemi Adaramodu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti South senatorial district.

It also dismissed the petitions filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by Engr Dare Bankole, a candidate of PDP in Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Irepodun/Isin Federal Constituency of the House of Representatives in the election as well as another petition filed by the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) on election into Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency of Kwara state.

Delivering judgment on the petition filed by Senator Olujimi, Justice J.O. Abdulmalik ruled that there was no malpractice and over voting in the election as  alleged in Olujimi’s petition.

“The petitioner failed to prove his case that there was corruption and over voting in the Ekiti douth senatorial district election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission on February 25,2023,” the tribunal held.

It  awarded a cost of N300,000 against the petitioner which Justice AbdulMalik  said should be paid to the three respondents who included INEC, Adaramodu and APC.

On the petition filed by Dare Bankole against INEC on the election into Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Irepodun/Isin Federal Constituency of Kwara state, Justice Abdulmalik dismissed the petition and awarded cost of N600,000 against the petitioner which she said should be paid to the respondents who included INEC, Hon Raheem Ajuloopin and the APC.

Bankole had challenged the results of the election conducted in the Constituency on February 25,2023 alleging non compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act and malpractices during the conduct of the election.

The tribunal held that the petitioner failed to prove his case before it.

Reading another judgment delivered by the tribunal, Chief Magistrate Izabi Bashir also dismissed a petition filed by the NNPP on the election conducted into Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency on February 25,2023.

The Petitioner had alleged non compliance with the Electoral Act and corrupt practices in the election by the APC and it candidate, Hon Tijani Bashir.

The tribunal ordered the petitioner to pay a fine of N200,000 to each of the three respondents.