The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ibadan has dismissed the petition filed by All Progressives Congress and its governorship candidate in Oyo State against the victory of Governor Seyi Makinde at the March 9 governorship poll.

Ruling on the petition, the chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Muhammed Sirajo said the petitioner failed to prove all the allegations levied against the respondents.

Justice Sirajo noted that out of sixty nine witnesses the petitioners presented, only thirty seven who were poling units agents were competent to witness.

Out of these thirty seven, the tribunal also rejected the testimonies of two witnesses for not being consistent.

The panel explained that to prove any irregularity, over voting or violence as alleged by the petitioners, the witness must be an eye witness and not those who rely on information from agent.

Justice Sirajo disqualified 27 ward agents who witness for petitioners for not being an eye witness, pointing out that their testimonies were hearsay.

He also said many of the witnesses later confirmed that the results INEC released were correct when they were cross examined.

However, the Tribunal cancelled the result of election held at Poling Unit 3 Ward 9 of Iddo Local Government for having two different result sheets, though the panel said none of the results prove the case of over voting.

The Tribunal after dismissing the petition and awarded the cost of two hundred thousand naira against each of the two petitioners.

Sunday Ogunyemi

pub-5160901092443552

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *