The National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has dismissed three petitions filed by aggrieved candidates challenging the outcome of the National Assembly elections held on February 25, 2023.
In the first petition, Senator Biodun Olujimi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenged the election of Senator Yemi Adaramodu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti South senatorial district. The tribunal, in a judgment delivered by Justice J.O. Abdulmalik, dismissed the petition, ruling that there was no evidence of malpractice or over voting in the election.
The tribunal also dismissed a petition filed by Engr Dare Bankole, a candidate of the PDP in Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Irepodun/Isin Federal Constituency of the House of Representatives. Bankole had alleged non-compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act and malpractices during the election. The tribunal, in a judgment delivered by Justice Abdulmalik, dismissed the petition, ruling that Bankole failed to prove his case.
The third petition was filed by the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) on the election into Ifelodun/Offa/Oyun Federal Constituency of Kwara state. The tribunal, in a judgment delivered by Chief Magistrate Izabi Bashir, dismissed the petition, ruling that the petitioner failed to prove his case.
The tribunal ordered the petitioners in all three cases to pay a cost of N300,000 to the respondents.
The dismissal of the petitions means that the election results in the three constituencies will stand.