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The National and State election Petition sitting in Akure has struck out the election petition filed by People’s Democratic Party candidate, Oladapo Abiola against the election of Wale Williams of All Progressive Congress (APC) as a member of Ondo State House of Assembly.
Charles Titiloye, Counsel to Williams on May 9, 2019 filed an objection to the jurisdiction of the Tribunal to determine the petition on four grounds.
Titiloye in the said objections argued that the petition against the APC Candidate was incompetent having failed to state the holding of the election and scores of the candidates that participated in the election in line with paragraph 4(1) of the first schedule to the electoral Act 2010 as amended.
He further argued that the facts contained in the election petition were purely on corrupt practices and cannot sustain and substantiate the only ground of the petition which was based on non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
He noted that the Petitioners did not accompany the petition with witnesses’ statement on oath in accordance with the Electoral Act.
The trial Tribunal upon hearing the preliminary objections of the 1st Respondent Counsel, Titiloye served ruling on the objection to be embodied in Judgment of the Tribunal and directed the Petitioners to open their case on the next adjourn date.
When the case came up yesterday for Petitioners to open their case, his Counsel, Olusola Oke applied for withdrawal of the Election Petition.
The Trial Tribunal 5 after hearing all respondents Counsels not opposing the application of petitioners to withdraw the petition thereby dismissed the petition.
The APC’s candidate election was consequently affirmed.
