Tribunal fixes September 18 for judgment in petition filed against Senator Adeola

THE Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ikeja, has fixed September 18, 2015 to deliver judgment in a petition filed by the Lagos West Senatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Adewale popularly known as Aeroland.

Justice Slyvanus Oriji who headed the three-man panel fixed the date after listening to argument of counsel to parties while adopting their written address.

Adewale had in the petition filed before the tribunal, alleged irregularities and challenging the declaration of All Progressives Congress (APC)’s candidate, Solomon OlamilekanAdeola by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the winner of the March 28, 2015 general election.

He had prayed the tribunal to nullify the declaration of Senator Adeola, popularly known as Yayi as winner of the election‎ insisted that he (Adewale) won the election.

Respondents i‎n the petition aside Adeola includes: All Progressives Congress (APC) and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The petitioner counsel, DrYemi Oko while adopting his final address before the tribunal yesterday said his client is challenging Adeola’s victory on three grounds; that the nomination of Adeola is invalid, that election did not hold in some wards, among others irregularities which include falsification of results.

Oke told court that there were irregularities in the conduct of the election, alleging that election did not hold in some wards, adding that the results submitted by wards did not correspond with the card readers among others irregularities he alleged of.

In their response, counsel to Adeola, APC and INEC, Mr. A. Adegoke and Dr. Muiz Banire respectively prayed the court to dismiss his petition on the ground that he failed to prove the allegations against the respondents beyond reasonable doubt.

They argued that most of the allegations by the petitioner are criminal in nature and such would need to be proven beyond reasonable doubt, posited that Adewale had only dumped documents before the tribunal without linking any of his allegations to the documents.

Also, they submitted that the petitioner did not bring anybody to support his claim, adding that even when he had in his evidence said he did not leave his polling unit but monitored other areas through his agents both at wards, units and local government.

The respondents also contended that the despite the allegation by the petitioner that results submitted by wards did not correspond with the card readers, Adewale had not been able to prove the contradictions in the results and also failed to show his claim through the card readers.

However, they prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petition.