Labour Party, PDP file petition against APC’s Oluranti-Adebule, INEC

The PDP and its candidate for Lagos West senatorial district, Sunday Adewale (alias Aeroland), have filed a petition against former Deputy Governor Idiat Oluranti-Adebule, over alleged non-qualification to contest the senatorial election.

The petitions were pasted on the wall of the Rosaline Omotosho Courthouse, Ikeja, the venue of the elections petitions tribunal.

Mr Adewale, in the petition, marked EPT/LAG/SEN/04/2023 and dated March 18, filed against Ms Oluranti-Adebule, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and INEC as first to third respondents, alleged that she was not qualified to contest the election.

He said the former deputy governor was not qualified to contest at the time of the election and was not duly elected by the majority of lawful votes.

The PDP flag bearer stated that Ms Oluranti-Adebule did not possess the educational qualification to contest the Lagos West senatorial district election held on February 25.

The petitioners also alleged that the third respondent (INEC) did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 in the conduct of the election.

Mr Adewale and PDP said in the form requiring Ms Oluranti-Adebule to state the schools she attended, with dates, the APC standard-bearer only indicated she graduated in 1982 without stating the primary school attended.

Also, Moshood Salvador and the Labour Party are challenging the declaration of Ms Oluranti-Adebule as the election winner. The petitioners alleged multiple thumbprinting and ballot stuffing during and after the election.

In the petition marked EPT/LAG/ SEN/01/2023, Mr Salvador alleged that the election was marred by violence, intimidation, fracas, threat, ballot box snatching, over-voting, and mutilation of results from polling units.

Mr Salvador added that the second and third respondents engaged in multiple thumbprinting and ballot stuffing during and after the election.

He explained that the entirety of the Lagos Central senatorial district election was invalid because of substantial non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, INEC Electoral Guidelines and the 1999 Constitution.

The Labour Party candidate added that the first respondent failed to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and Electoral Guidelines during the election, claiming there was no due accreditation of voters.

He also said the election result was not electronically transmitted through the BVAS machine.

(NAN)