The candidate contesting for the Share/Oke-Ode Constituency of the Kwara State House of Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Barr. Obayomi Azeez Olaitan has challenged the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker-elect, Owolabi Olatunde Rasaq at the Election Petition Tribunal.
The petition marked: EPT/KW/SHA/01/2023, has the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the lawmaker-elect, Owolabi as the 1st to 3rd respondents.
The petitioners have appealed to the tribunal to nullified the victory of Owolabi, and to issue a directive to the electoral commission to withdraw his certificate of return given to him.
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Obayomi said he and his party, PDP had decided to challenge the results of the March 18 state assembly elections at the tribunal situated in Ilorin, the capital of the state.
“Our grounds for this petition include that Owolabi was at the time of the election, not qualified to contest the election; that the election of Owolabi was/is invalid by reason of substantial non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022; and also that Owolabi was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast at the election”
“It is our belief that we owe democracy in our country, Nigeria, a duty to help deepen it by taking such an action to reverse the ‘hijacking’ of the popular mandate. It is our faith that the mandate of the Share/Oke-Ode electorates will be restored to our great party as was rightfully given by the people on March 18.”
“PDP is challenging the outcome of the election in a court of competent jurisdiction. We are a peace-loving people and we remain obedient to the constitution of the land and the rule of law,” he said