Tribunal in Ondo strikes out LP petition challenging APC Rep-elect’s victory

The Labour Party in Ondo State and its candidate in the Ilaje/ Ese Odo Federal Constituency, Mr Tunji Balogun, Thursday, withdrew their petition challenging the declaration of Mr Donald Ojogo as winner.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Ojogo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the Feb 25 National Assembly election.

Our correspondent reports that also joined as respondents in the petition were APC and INEC.

Mr Omolegbon Odusola, Counsel to Balogun and LP, however, filed an application for the withdrawal of the petition, which was supported with a four paragraph affidavit.

Odusola during resumption of sitting of the tribunal urged it to grant his application by striking out the petition.

Counsel to the respondents, Mr Kizito Duru, Mr Henry Akingbesote and Mr Kehinde Aladejutire respectively did not oppose the application.

Ruling on the application, the Tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Rose Soji, said that the applicants had a right to withdraw the petition and since the respondents were not opposed to the application it was thus granted.

She, therefore, struck out the petition as prayed by the petitioners.