Tribunal Dismisses Labour Party’s Petition Against Ogun Governor

Victor Awoleye

The Ogun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has dismissed the petition of the Labour Party challenging the victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun in the March 9 election held in the state.

This comes two months after the party had filed the suit at the Tribunal.

Joined as respondents in the suit, EPT/OG/GOV/03/2019 BTW MRS MODUPE SANYAOLU  LABOUR PARTY VS DAPO ABIODUN, APC & INEC’ in June, were the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

But the Tribunal, led by Justice Yusuf Halidu, dismissed the suit on Saturday.

According to the Tribunal, the case stands dismissed on the ground that the Tribunal had dismissed the petition pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 46(3) of the Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended.

Justice Halilu held that the petitioners had failed to attend the hearing of the petition initially filed.

He, therefore, ruled that the Tribunal lacked jurisdiction to reverse itself by re-listing the petition.