Oyo LG Election: Tribunal Dismisses APC, SDP Petitions Due To Incompetence
CHIGOZIE AMADI
The Oyo State Local Government Council Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed a petition filed by Abdul Wasiu Danladi Andy Ajao, the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Omotosho Olayode, and the All Progressive Congress (APC) regarding the April 27th, 2024 elections.
The Election Petition Tribunal, presided over by Justice A. L Akintola, ruled on July 3, 2024, that the petitions were incompetent and statute-barred.
The petition number LGET/OY/01/2024 was filed by Rafiu Omotosho, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, and Segun Onifade.
The suit, LGET/0Y/02/2024, involved Ayobami Akinwole Akinleye, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission.
The petitioners contended that the election did not take place in Akinware Akindele Constituency, Ward 3 and that no party results were declared.
The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (3rd Respondent) held elections in all Local Government Areas of Oyo State on April 27, 2024, and declared the results on April 28, 2024. The first respondent was declared the winner.
The decision stated, “The Tribunal holds that this election petition was filed after the prescribed period of 14 days, and the preliminary objection of the 3rd Respondent is thus meritorious.”
“The petition (ground 1) is valid and competent, while the other ground (ground 2) is invalid and incompetent for failing to state the candidates’ scores in the election as required by paragraph 5 (1) (c) of Schedule 3 to the State Independent Electoral Commission law 2,000.”
“The Tribunal holds that the ground one of the petition cannot sustain the petition due to the filthy nature of the ground two.”
The Tribunal goes on to say that “the first issue has been resolved in favour of the first and second respondents, the petition held to be statute barred, and some dismissed.
“The tribunal’s consideration of a party’s non-joinder will be merely academic.” As a result, the tribunal believes it is unnecessary to consider that issue because doing so would be a waste of valuable judicial time.”
