NASS, OSHA Elections: APC Refuses To Challenge Results

• Party, Candidates File Petitions Against Election Results In Ife Federal, State Assembly Constituencies
• As PDP Heads To Court To Upturn APC Victory In Boripe/Boluwaduro Constituency

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun has refused to challenge the outcome of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections results, findings have revealed.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that the timeline for parties and candidates to challenge the National Assembly election results before the election petition tribunals lapsed on Saturday, March 21, while that of the House of Assembly closed on Saturday, April 8.

Findings at the tribunal yesterday revealed that APC is only challenging the Ife Central/Ife East/Ife South/Ife North Federal House of Representatives election result.

The APC candidate in the election, Benjamin Adereti is the petitioner while the party is the second petitioner in the petition.

It would be recalled that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Taofeek Ajilesoro was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Ajilesoro polled 53,078 votes while Adereti had 51,051 votes.

APC is also challenging Ife Central State Constituency election result which was won by the PDP.

It was reported that the National Secretary of the APC, Senator Iyiola Omisore, is responsible for the party’s legal actions.

Aside Ife Federal Constituency, APC did not initiate any petition for Osun Central, Osun West and Osun East Senatorial Districts elections outcome, while eight House of Representatives, 24 State House of Assembly seats were left unchallenged.

However, the PDP is challenging the election result in Boripe/Boluwaduro State Constituency, the only seat won by the APC.

PDP and its candidate, Prince Abayomi Aina, asked the tribunal to upturn the victory of the APC candidate, Hon. Femi Popoola who is the incumbent Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the tribunal had received a total of 38 petitions for the National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

Of the petitions, Action Alliance (AA) filed 36 to challenge the three senatorial districts, nine House of Representatives and 24 State House of Assembly elections results.

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is also challenging the declaration of Hon. Bamidele Salam as the winner of Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal constituency election.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the Secretary of the tribunal, Muhammad Mogaji, said the panel was not expecting any petition again, stating that the time for the submission of petitions for both National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections has closed.

Mogaji confirmed that the tribunal has received petitions from parties that are dissatisfied with the conduct of the NASS/OSHA elections in the state.

 

He disclosed that three different panels are likely to sit on the NASS/OSHA elections related petitions, explaining that the petitions are too much for a panel to handle.

He said: “We have received a total of 38 petitions from parties that are dissatisfied with the conduct of the elections in the state, and we are not expecting any petition again. As a matter of fact, the timeline for the submission of petition has closed.

“As it is, three panels are likely to sit on the petitions; we are already looking for additional courtrooms. Two panels have already been constituted and the other one is likely to be constituted anytime. The petitions are too much for a panel to handle.

“Some of the respondents have been served while some are yet to be served. Only INEC has filed responses to the petitions. The respondents also have 21 days to respond. Proper sitting of the panels will begin when all processes have been filed.