Ajimobi, APC Granted Leave by Tribunal to Issue Substituted Service on PDP Senator-elect

The governorship, National Assembly and state House of Assembly election petitions tribunal in Oyo State headed by Justice Dennis Igyuse on Wednesday  granted the All Progressives Congress (APC) leave to serve the winner of the Oyo South senatorial election, Dr. Kola Balogun, and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), court notice by substituted means.

The tribunal, while ruling on an ex parte motion filed by the APC on behalf of its candidate, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, granted the request of the petitioner to serve the first and second respondent by pasting the relevant documents in the petition on the notice board or conspicuous part of the PDP Secretariat in Ibadan.

It  also granted same relief to the APC candidate for Ibarapa East/Ido federal constituency, Prof.Adeniyi Olowofela, who is challenging the victory of the PDP candidate, Hon. Oluyemi Taiwo, in the February 23 National Assembly election.

Counsel to the APC, Mr. Kunle Sobaloju, said the party decided to challenge Balogun’s victory due to some malpractices observed in the conduct of the Oyo South senatorial district election, adding that the party is of the opinion that he is not qualified to contest the election because he did not participate in the primary of his party.

Meanwhile, the tribunal said it has received no fewer than 16 petitions since the conclusion of the February 23 National Assembly elections in the state.

Justice Igyuse, who made the disclosure, said the petitions included seven from Providence Peoples Congress(PPC), calling for the cancellation of the election from seven federal constituencies on the premise that the party’s logo was unlawfully excluded from the ballot paper used for the election.

He added that three petitions were from senatorial elections in the state and it included a petition filed by the APC on behalf of Ajimobi against Dr. Kola Balogun of the PDP over the Oyo South senatorial district election.

Justice Igyuse, who addressed members of the bar during the sitting of the tribunal, sought the cooperation of lawyers in ensuring speedy hearing of all petitions, describing  the tribunal as the concluding part of 2019 general election, and promised to be fair to all parties.