The Labour Party, LP, in Ondo State has asked the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal to cancel elections in constituencies where the party’s name and logo were excluded on the ballot papers during the February 25th elections.
It is asking the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct fresh election in the various constituencies.
Constituencies, where the party is seeking cancellation, are Ondo Central Senatorial district, Akoko South East/ South West; Akure North/South; Okiti-pupa/Irele, and Ondo East/Ondo West Federal.
Candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, won elections in all the affected constituencies.
A statement on Sunday, April 2, 2023, by the State Coordinator of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council, Abiodun Ambode, said the party considered it necessary to challenge what he termed unlawful exclusion of the party and its candidates in the Constituencies and the Ondo Central Senatorial District.
Ambode said the petitions were filed on the 17th March 2023 by a team of lawyers led by Chief Olusola Ebiseni.
He alleged that the electoral body unlawfully excluded the party’s symbol on the ballot papers used for the elections contrary to the provisions of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act 2022.
Ambode said among reliefs sought at thr tribunal is a declaration that the elections held on the 25th February 2023 was invalid and unlawful.
“An Order setting aside the elections and order mandating the 1st Respondent to conduct a fresh election in full compliance with the constitution and the Electoral Act wherein the 2nd Petitioner shall be allowed to participate as the candidate of the 1st petitioner in the fresh elections.”
Source: The Nation
