BENIN CITY – The Edo State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Benin City yesterday struck out the petition filed by People Democratic party (PDP) and its candidate, Oladele Bankole-Balogun challenging the election of Comrade Peter Akpatason, of the All Progressive Congress for Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency seat.
Justice A.R. Ozoemena who led the tribunal in his verdict said the petition was not filed in accordance with the Electoral Act as amended. Justice Ozoemena said it seemed there was no petition before the tribunal since there was no attempt by the PDP or its agents to sign on behalf of the party.
“The petition lacks merit and therefore struck out in its entirety”, he declared.
Akpatason through his counsel, Ken Mozia had challenged the petition of the PDP and its candidate, on the ground that the party was signed for, but the person did not indicate his or her name as stipulated in the law.
He also challenged the composition of the petition where he asked that certain paragraphs seemed to make the document clumsy and should be struck out.
Although the petitioner had said he is considering appealing the ruling in court, he faulted the joint petition filed by the PDP and its candidate, Bankole-Balogun, asserting that the failure by the PDP to sign the petition filed before the Tribunal was a clear negation of the Electoral Act.
