22nd March, 2012
The Lagos State Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ikeja, on Wednesday admitted copies of results tendered by the police for the Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council chairmanship poll as exhibits.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, Mr. Babajide Obanikoro, is challenging the outcome of the October 22, 2011 poll.
Obanikoro had petitioned the five-man tribunal chaired by retired Justice Dolapo Akinsanya, asking it to upturn the results declared by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).
The electoral body had declared Mr. Adewale Adeniji of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as winner and he was subsequently sworn-in as the council chairman.
The tribunal had, on the request of Obanikoro’s lawyer, Mr. Clement Onwemuemor, subpoenaed the three Divisional Police Officers in the council area to produce their copies of the election results.
Onwemuemor had alleged that the breakdown of the results declared by LASIEC contradicted those collated by the policemen deployed to the various polling units in the council area.
In compliance with the order, the DPO of Onikan Station, Mr. Ordial Monday; his Ikoyi Division counterpart, Mr. Aisha Haruna; and the DPO Dolphin Estate, Mr. Jubril Musa, on Wednesday appeared before the tribunal.
The tribunal admitted the election results tendered by the police officers as exhibits and adjourned the matter to March 30 for hearing on the application filed by Adeniji’s lawyer, Mr. Shina Sofola.