The Election Petitions Tribunal sitting
in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the candidate of the Accord Party,
Mr. Niyi Owolade, to pay N50,000 to the 1st respondent, Governor Rauf
Aregbesola.
The petitioner was also ordered to
N50,000 each to the 2nd respondent, the All Progressives Congress and
the 3rd respondent, Independent National Electoral Commission.
It subsequently dismissed the petition filed by Owolade.
Owolade, through his counsel, Mr. Jacobs
Adedayo, had at the resumed hearing on Thursday announced the withdrawal
of the petition.
The counsel had moved a motion dated
January 8 and told the court that the petitioner decided to discontinue
with the case because the panel would not be able to conclude the mater
within 180 days allotted to it by the Electoral Act.
The first respondent, Governor Rauf Aregbesola did not raise any objection to the application to withdraw the petition.
Aregbesola, who was represented by his
counsel, Mr. Wale Afolabi, however, prayed the panel to award a cost of
N5 million against the petitioner.
