By Innocent Anaba

LAGOS-The election of Ganiyu Olukolu of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, as a member of the House of Representatives representing Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituency, has been upheld by National Assembly/Legislative House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Lagos.

The tribunal dismissed the petition by Labour Party, LP and its candidate in the April 9 election, Mr Cosmos Okoli, challenging the declaration of Olukolu as the winner of the election by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

According to the Tribunal, the petitioners (Okoli and LP) failed to comply with the provision of Paragraph 18 (1) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, which rendered the petition defective.

N50,000 cost was also awarded in favour of Olukolu and his party against the petitioners.

Olukolu had prayed the tribunal set aside the pre-hearing notice issued in favour of the petitioners on the ground that same was based on a letter written by the petitioners’ lawyer to the Tribunal, and was contrary to the provision of the Electoral Act, which stipulates that issuance of pre-hearing notice must be based on a motion to the Tribunal and not by a letter from counsel.

The tribunal in its ruling, upheld the respondents’ contention, dismissed the petition.