15 Petitions Filed Against Lagos Senators-Elect, Others
LAGOS, May 23, (THEWILL) - Fifteen petitions have been filed at the Lagos State Elections Petitions Tribunal challenging the victory of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidates, who won the April 9, 2011 National Assembly elections and April 26, 2011 House of Assembly elections.
The tribunal, which will hear all the election petitions inside the complex of the Lagos High Court in Igbosere, has slated this week for its inaugural sitting and subsequent hearings will follow at the same venue from June 1, 2011.
Of the 15 election petitions filed so far, the state secretariat of the tribunal confirmed that no suit had been instituted to challenge the victory of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) in the just concluded governorship election.
At the secretariat also located in the Lagos High Court complex, four petitions have been filed challenging three senators-elect -- Chief Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central), Sen. Ganiyu Solomon (Lagos West) and Mr. Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East).
A source at the secretariat also told THEWILL that seven election petitions have been instituted in the House of Representatives election, challenging the ACN candidates that won in Alimosho, Amuwo-Odofin and Surulere federal constituencies.
The source also confirmed that only four petitions have been filed relating to the State House of Assembly while no gubernatorial candidate has come up to initiate any legal processes against Governor Fashola.
Prominent among those contesting the results of the federal and state legislative elections in the state include the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates -- Hon. Moshood Salvador (Lagos West), Mr. Tolagbe Animashaun (Lagos Central), Mr. Al'Mustain Abaniwonda (Lagos East) and Mr. Segun Adewale of Alimosho Federal Constituency amongst others.
Labour Party senatorial candidate, Mr. Dapo Durosinmi-Etti had initiated legal proceedings against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ACN and its candidate in the district, Chief Oluremi Tinubu for alleged exclusion of the Labour Party logo from the ballot even though the party duly complete paper work for his candidacy in that senate race.
Labour Party, which petitioned the House of Representatives Election Tribunal and the National Assembly Election Tribunal on behalf of its Lagos Central senatorial candidate, Mr. Dapo Durosinmi-Etti and candidates for 7 federal constituencies, described as illegal the decision of INEC to exclude its symbol and names of its candidates from the ballot.
Labour Party listed Mr. Adesina Sogo of Ikorodu, Mr. Christopher Sowunmi of Ifako-Ijaiye, Mr. Lukman Salau of Somolu, Mr. Abdullatif Musa of Eti-Osa, Prince Bamidele Aderanmu of Surulere, Mr. Felix Ehuwa of Lagos Mainland and Mr. Abdulwaheed Hassan of Badagry among its candidates excluded from the election.
The party is seeking a declaration that Durosinmi-Etti and other candidates were validly, duly and timely nominated for the election in accordance with the provisions of the 2010 Electoral Act.