Court of Appeal dismisses Abiola Ajimobi’s petition challenging result of the February 23rd national assembly election

The Court of Appeal, Ibadan, on Friday, November 1st dismissed the petition filed by the former Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, challenging the verdict of the Election Petition Tribunal on February 23 National Assembly Election for Oyo South.

The Election Petition Tribunal had upheld the victory of Sen. Kola Balogun (Oyo South). Balogun polled a total of 105,720 votes to defect Ajimobi who had 92,218 votes. Delivering judgment, Justice Haruna Tsammani, dismissed Ajimobi’s petition for lacking in merit. Tsammani affirmed the decision of the tribunal, adding that the tribunal was right in its judgment.

The judge held that the petitioner does not have the right to raise the issue of the non-qualification of the respondent based on the conduct of PDP primary. He further held that a person that does not participate in the party primary does not have the right to challenge the outcome of the primary.

Tsammani said a person is qualified to contest once such a person satisfied the condition of the party and INEC confirmed such a person.

The judge said most of the witnesses presented by the petitioner were not qualified to tender exhibits and give evidence because they are not the maker of those documents tendered. He also said the tribunal was right in upholding the victory of Balogun and dismissed the petition.

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