The election petitions tribunal in Oyo State has received two petitions challenging the emergence of Governor Seyi Makinde as the winner of the March 18 governorship election in the state.
The secretary to the tribunal, Mr Ibrahim Sada, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday, that the petitions against Makinde’s victory were filed by Allied People’s Movement and its candidate, Adeniran Oluwaseyi; as well as Action Alliance and its candidate, Babatunde Ajala.
Apart from those, Sada said the tribunal also received four petitions challenging the results of the state House of Assembly election.
Among the petitioners were the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for Orelope state Constituency, Olowokere Adewale; candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Ogbomoso South state Constituency, Adegoke Ayodeji; candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party for Ogbomoso South state Constituency, Adeniyi Oluwaseun; and the PDP candidate for Saki West state Constituency, Okedoyin Julius.
The trinunal secretary noted that the 21 days stipulated by law for filing of petitions by aggrieved parties had lapsed, adding that no new petitions could be filed again.
Meanwhile, in Lagos State, the governorship election petitions tribunal, on Monday, granted leave to the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, to serve his petition on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu by substituted means.
The tribunal granted the order after Rhodes-Vivour and LP, through their counsel, Olagbade Benson, alleged that Sanwo-Olu had been evading service.
Benson claimed that Sanwo-Olu refused to collect the court papers from the bailiff, who went to effect service on him at his office.
The tribunal granted their prayer to serve Sanwo-Olu and the deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat, through substituted means, by posting the court documents via DHL courier services or any other recognised courier service company, to the respondent’s official residence at Lagos House, Marina, Lagos.
NAN also reports that the Lagos State Election Petitions Tribunal has received a total of 48 petitions in respect of the 2023 elections held on February 25 and March 18.
The petitions are pasted on the wall of the Rosaline Omotosho Courthouse, Ikeja, venue of the tribunal sitting.
