BY BABALOLA GAFAR, ABEOKUTA
Can usedidates of the All Progressives Congress in the last local government election in Ogun State were absent in court, on Friday, when the petitions filed by the New Nigeria People’s Party to challenge their (APC’s) victory at the polls were called before the state Election Tribunal.
The NNPP’s petitions were filed against the victory of the APC candidates in Obafemi-Owode, Adesina Ogunsola; Abeokuta North, Adebayo Ayorinde; and Ijebu North, Bolaji Odusanya.
NNPP and other political parties approached the Tribunal with different petitions to challenge the LG polls held in the state about four months ago.
Recall that the LG election held in the state, in which the APC swept all the councils in the state was marred with allegations of electoral fraud.
Some political parties in the state, including the NNPP and the Action Alliance, challenged the APC’s victory in the poll.
When the petition of the NNPP was called, THE POINT correspondent observed that the APC and its candidates did not have representatives at the Tribunal.
The NNPP’s lawyer, Monday Mawah, told the court that the petitions were filed on 1st October, 2021.
Mawah said that the party would rely on substituted service for the respondents.
The Chairman of the Tribunal, Akintunde Oyeyinka, advised NNPP’s lawyer to ensure that the parties involved were served personally.
Oyeyinka indicated that the Tribunal would engage in a speedy judicial process, stressing, “Ensure you serve the respondents personally. Please, do the needful; time is not on our side.”
The case was adjourned till 1st November, 2021.
