Bankole

ABEOKUTA—The ambition of the former Speaker, House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole,  to return to the House, suffered a major blow  as the National and State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal  dismissed his  petition.

Similarly,   the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN defeated three candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP at the Tribunal in Abeokuta.

The Tribunal sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, yesterday which dismissed the petition filed by the PDP on behalf of Bankole who was defeated by the  ACN, candidate for Abeokuta South Federal Constituency, Olusegun Williams, was dismissed for lack of substance.

Reading the judgment on behalf of other members of the tribunal, Justice Michael Obi, said the petitioner failed to prove the allegations beyond doubt.

Citing several relevant portions of the Electoral Acts and the constitution, the panel said that it was the opinion of the tribunal that the defendant won the majority of lawful votes cast and declared him   winner of the election and subsequently dismissed the petition.

In his argument, the petitioner had told the court that he got majority of lawful votes cast as against his opponent, Segun Williams, who was returned winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The lead counsel to the petitioner, Adedayo Adegbile , prayed  the tribunal to declare Bankole winner, on the ground that ,over 5000 voters were disenfranchised in many polling units across the constituency.

He argued that, there were unlawful substitutions of candidates before the election, while alleging that, there were irregularities during the election that favoured the candidate of ACN.

However, Counsel to ACN, George Oyeniyi, refuted the claims of the plaintiff and described it as frivolous, saying the petition lacked legal backing.

He cited sections of the constitution and the Electoral Acts to back his claims, urging the tribunal to dismiss the petition and declare his client winner.

Meanwhile,  ACN   also defeated three candidates of the PDP at the Tribunal in Abeokuta.

The Petitions filed by Musa Borokini representing Egbado South/Ipokia Federal Constituency, Segun Seriki,  contested for Ijebu North/East/ Ogun waterside federal constituency election and  Mohammed  Odunowo contested  for  the Ogun East Senatorial District election were all dismissed by the tribunal.

The trio were challenging the victory of the ACN candidates at the last General Elections.

The  INEC had  declared  the candidates of ACN  in Egbado South/Ipokia federal constituency; Isiaq Abiodun Akinlade, Ijebu North/East/Ogun water side  federal constituency candidate; Abiodun Abudu Balogun and the Ogun East Senatorial  Candidate Sefiu Adegbenga Kaka winners of

the elections.

Giving the ruling, the Tribunal said that the petitioners could not proof their cases beyond  doubt,adding that, their failure to substantiate the allegation of over-voting, disenfranchisement,

votes-splitting and non-compliance with electoral Act 2010 have been proved and hereby struck out the petitions.