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By Emmanuel Adeleke
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Oyo State, on Friday, dismissed the petition of the Action Alliance (AA) and its gubernatorial candidate, Babatunde Samson Ajala, against thr victory of Governor Seyi Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 poll.
The tribunal, in a unanimous judgement on Friday, read by Justice Ejiron Emudainohwo, and supported by Jutices Baraka Wali and I.S. Galadima, dismissed the petition filed by Ajala and awarded a cost of N600,000 against him.
Counsel to AA and its candidate, Etibo Orowo King, had earlier told the tribunal that the party and its candidate have decided to discontinue the case.
He urged the tribunal to strike out the case in the interest of the state.
“The petitioner asked that the case be struck out. We want the case to be dismissed. It is a petition that is dead on arrival,” King said.
The tribunal subsequently dismissed the case and awarded a cost of N100,000 in favour of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and N250,000 each in favour of Makinde and PDP.
INEC had asked for a cost of N300,000, while Makinde asked for a cost of N5million. The PDP also demanded a cost of N3 million.
But the petitioner’s counsel pleaded for forgiveness from the panel.