Oyo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed an application filed by All Progressives Congress and its governorship candidate, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu seeking the recount of all ballot papers used for the March 9, governorship election in the state.

In an unanimous ruling delivered by a member of the panel, Justice Elizabeth Oji, the tribunal ruled that the relief sought in the petitioners was not contained in their pleading in the petition.

The tribunal also said the petitioners were not consistent in their application as various dates were used as dates of the election in the application.

Justice oji noted that none of the subjects stated in the section of the constitution and electoral act cited by the petitioners was related to the application.

According to the ruling, the petitioners only challenged the result of few local governments in the petition as against the request in the application to recount all the ballot papers used for the election.

The tribunal also ruled against the submission of the respondents that tribunal could not order the recount of ballot paper, saying the tribunal had the power if there was need for it.

Meanwhile hearing of the petition files against the victory of the Engineer Oluseyi Makinde of People’s Democratic Party in the March 9 governorship election in Oyo State will commence on Monday June 10 this year

At the pre-hearing conference of the petition, the parties agreed with the tribunal that panel will sit from Monday to Friday from ten o ‘clock in the morning to five o ‘clock in the evening with just one hour break at one o ‘clock in the afternoon.

However, the sitting on Friday will be between nine o clocks in the morning and half past noon.

No time was given to witness presentation but cross examination of witness would not take more than just ten minute.

All Progressives Congress said they had three hundred witnesses to pursue their petition

Sunday Ogunyemi

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