Ogun NNPP appeals tribunal’s ruling

Forum 10 months ago

Ogun NNPP appeals tribunal’s ruling

The New Nigeria Peoples Party has appealed the ruling of the Governorship and House of Assembly Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in a petition brought before it by the party over the omission of its name on the ballot papers used to conduct the 2023 governorship election in the state.

The PUNCH had reported that the tribunal, on April 15, 2023, dismissed the petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission as the first respondent, Governor Dapo Abiodun as the second respondent and the All Progressives Congress as the third respondent on the ground that the debrief counsel asked for discontinuation and withdrawal of the petition.

The NNPP said it was appealing the ruling because the judges that heard the case erred in their judgement.

In its appeal filed on May 22, 2023 in the Suit No: EPT/OG/GOV/01/2023, the NNPP through its counsel, Isaac Izunya, informed the Court of Appeal sitting in the Ibadan Judicial Division that it was dissatisfied with the unanimous judgement by the three judges.

Reiterating its position as contained in the petition No EPT/OG/GOV/01/2023, of April 15, 2023, it averred that: “The learned justices erred in law when they unanimously held that by article 27.18 (iii), (v) and (vii) of the constitution of New Nigeria Peoples Party (hereinafter called NNPP) the National Legal Adviser of NNPP cannot take over the appellant case, brief another counsel and debrief the counsel on record, Peter Ogah, from further representing the party.

“That by Article 27.18 (iii), (v) and (vi) of the constitution of NNPP, the National Legal Adviser of the party is empowered to attend to all litigations and legal defence on behalf of the party at all levels, including its organs and coordinate the activities of legal advisers at all levels on legal matters affecting the party.”

“The learned Justices of the tribunal erred in law when they allowed learned counsel, Peter Ogar to successfully withdraw the appellant’s petition and dismissed same when the provisions laid down by the Electoral Act, 2022 for the withdrawal of petition has not been complied with.”