ELECTION petition tribunals in 12 states have received no fewer than 146 petitions from National Assembly candidates who are not satisfied with the results of the just concluded elections.
The states where the petitions had been received as of Wednesday included Edo, Plateau, Ondo, Kwara, Ogun, Bayelsa, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Bauchi, Lagos and Niger.
Some aggrieved candidates had on Tuesday protested in Ogun and Nasarawa states, vowing to challenge the results of the elections in court.
However, findings by Hobnob News on Wednesday indicated that the defeated candidates had filed 25 petitions in Lagos, 11 in Ogun, and 11 in Niger while the Election Petition Tribunal in Bauchi State had received 15 petitions.
The Secretary of the Edo State tribunal, Muaza Sanusi, on Wednesday told Hobnob News that 13 petitions had been filed, adding that 10 petitions were received for the House of Representatives poll while three were for the senatorial election.
However, no petition has been received for the house of assembly election.
The Oyo State tribunal told the News Agency of Nigeria that it had received 20 petitions from aggrieved political parties and their candidates in the state.
The tribunal secretary, Mr Ibrahim Sada, said the petitions were filed within the 21-day period allowed by law.
Sada said of the 20 petitions, six were on the senatorial election and 14 emanated from the House of Representatives poll.
So far, 11 candidates who lost the national assembly elections in Plateau State have submitted petitions at the tribunal secretariat located at the West of Mines area in Jos.
A staff member of the tribunal confirmed the figure to Hobnob News on Wednesday.
A staff member of the tribunal confirmed the figure to Hobnob News on Wednesday.
The official said, “We have started receiving petitions from the parties and the candidates who have grievances about the just concluded election. So far, we have received about 11 petitions filed by the candidates and their parties but we hope to receive more in the coming days.”
Gyang Zi of the Labour Party who lost out to the PDP candidate, Simon Mwadkwon for the Plateau North Senatorial seat was among the petitioners.
The tribunal has yet to fix a date for the commencement of sittings.
The Secretary of the Governorship, National and State Houses of Assembly Tribunal in Kwara state, Aisha Fika, on his part, said that four petitions had so far been filed.
Speaking with our correspondent, she said, “Four petitions were filed before the election petitions tribunal as of today, Wednesday, in respect of the National Assembly elections. No petition has yet been received in respect of the governorship and state house of assembly election held on Saturday, March 18, 2023.’’
She further said that details of the petitions had been pasted on the notice board of the Kwara State High Court registry.
It indicated that Ibrahim Ajia of the Peoples Democratic Party and Mr Ope Saraki of the New Nigeria Peoples Party are challenging the election of Muktar Shagaya of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the election into the House of Representatives in Ilorin West/Asa Federal constituency of Kwara State.
Another petition was filed by Mr Dare Bankole of the PDP who is challenging the victory of Tunji Ajuloopin of the APC who was declared winner of the House of Representatives election in Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero/Ekiti Federal constituency of Kwara State.
A petition was also filed by Mr Kayode Ayelabegan, the Senatorial candidate of the Accord Party in Kwara Central Senatorial zone.
Meanwhile, six PDP house of assembly candidates from the four local government councils in Kwara Central senatorial district have vowed to mount a legal challenge against the election conducted in the district and reclaim their mandate.
Speaking at a press conference in Ilorin and flanked by five other colleagues, including party stalwarts on Wednesday, the PDP candidate for the Ilorin North West constituency, Isiaka Saka-Saadu, accused the APC in the state of intimidation, harassment and cheating during the election.
The other aggrieved candidates are Abdullahi Mogaji, (Owode/Onire constituency), Abubakar Wankasi, (Ilorin Central), Hassan Alaya, (Ilorin South), Isiaka Labaika, (Afon) and Mohammed Maigidansanma, (Ilorin East).
The candidates, who appealed to their supporters for calm, said they were understudying the results of the election from each polling unit and ward.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Saka-Saadu stated, “We, the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party from Kwara Central Senatorial District with a deep sense of humility want to acknowledge the commitment and support enjoyed from our teeming youths and stakeholders during the recently concluded governorship and State Assembly elections in Kwara State.
“Your resilience and resistance to intimidation, harassment and shenanigans put up by the ruling party were indeed notable and well appreciated.
“Therefore, we are appealing for calmness with all assurances to forge ahead in getting our mandate Insha Allah, being in the process of understudying the outcome of results from each polling unit across wards and various constituents accordingly.
