Tribunal Quashes AA Candidate’s Petition Against Makinde

By Bode Akinbode, Ibadan

The governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Ibadan the Oyo state capital on Friday dismissed
the petition of the Action Alliance (AA) and its gubernatorial candidate, Babatunde Samson Ajala against Governor Seyi Makinde

The three-man tribunal led by Justice Ejiro Emudainohwu delivered the judgement based on the petitioner’s request that the petition be striked out .
Other members of the tribunal who sat in Ibadan, the state capital are Justices Baraka Wali and I. S. Galadima.

Makinde was declared the winner of the gubernatorial election held on Saturday, March 18, 2023, but AA and its candidate approached the tribunal and called for the cancellation of the election result owing to the alleged exclusion of the name of its candidate.

Counsel to AA and its candidate; Etibo Orowo King in his presentation, told the tribunal that the party and its candidate have decided to discontinue the case.

He urged the tribunal to strike out the case in the interest of the state.

“My prayer is for the cancellation of the result of the election. But, further reevaluation, we decided to discontinue the case in the interest of peace and tranquility.”

Counsel to the governor who is the second respondent, Kunle Kalejaye (SAN) in his presentation then urged the tribunal to dismiss the case.

“The petitioner asked that the case be struck out. We want the case to be dismissed. It is a petition that is dead on arrival,” the counsel said.

The tribunal then dismissed the case, just as it also awarded a sum of N100,000 in favour of first respondent (Independent National Electoral Commission), a sum of N250,000 in favour of the second respondent (Governor Makinde) and a sum of N250,000 in favour of the third respondent (Peoples Democratic Party).