Tribunal dismisses Adelabu, APC’s application to recount ballot papers


Dismissal

By Suleiman Shehu

Ibadan, May 20, 2019 (NAN) The Oyo State Governorship Election
Petition Tribunal has dismissed an application filed by Mr Adebayo
Adelabu, governorship candidate of APC to recount all the ballot
papers used in March 9 governorship election in Oyo State.


The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adelabu and his party
are challenging the declaration of Seyi Makinde, governorship
candidate of PDP, by INEC has the winner of the March 9 governorship
election in Oyo State


Adelabu through his counsel, Mr Titus Asaolu (SAN) had filed an
application seeking to recount all the ballot papers used in the March
9 election.


Delivering his ruling on Monday, the three-man panel of tribunal
chaired by Justice Sirajo Muhammed dismissed the application, adding
that it would jeopardize the respondents’ right to fear hearing.


Mohammed said that the petitioners were only challenging the result of
few local governments in conduct of March 9 governorship election and
not all the 33 local government in the state.


The judge said that filling an application now to count all the ballot
papers used in the election would amount to amending the petitioners’
pleadings.


He said that the time allowed to amend pleadings of all parties has
elapsed and no pleadings can be amended at this stage.

Mohammed said that the petitioners were also not consistent on the
date the election was conducted as they were quoting different date in
their application.


The judge then dismissed the application and fixed June 10 for
commencement of hearing, adding that pre-hearing has ended. (NAN)