The national assembly election petition tribunal has granted the application of Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Prince Matthew Kolawole, to served the House of Representatives candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu federal constituency, Arc Salman Idris, through substituted means.
Kolawole, who was the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 national assembly elections, applied for substituted service after alleging that Salman has been evading service since the petition was filed in court few weeks ago.
In the petition filed by his lawyer, Matthew Kolawole is challenging the declaration of Salman as winner of the elections days after the same polls were declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He is praying the tribunal to sack his opponent and order INEC to complete the election in the two polling units by conducting the supplementary election ordered by the Returning Officer, Dr Adams Baba before the winner of the poll will emerge.
The court document read, “The Petitioners plead and shall rely on the Declaration of Result, FORM EC8E (I). 11. The 3rd Respondent declared the election inconclusive and did not make any return as the winner of the Ijumu/Kabba -Bunu Federal Constituency election, and, the Petitioners stated that the 1st Respondent was not duly elected and/or duly returned as the winner of the aforesaid election; having not scored the legally recognized majority of the lawful votes cast at the election due to cancellation in two units and deduction of his votes in some units in Ijumu local government area.”
However, he has been served on 5th April, 2023 by substituted means in compliance with the order of National Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Lokoja.
