The Oyo State Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has upheld the election of Hon. (Dr) Anthony Adebayo Adepoju, member representing Ibarapa Central/North Federal Constituency, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The National Assembly election was held in the constituency on Saturday, February 25, and the result was declared on Sunday, February 26, 2023. Hon. Adepoju, politically known as Ibarapakan, who contested under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), polled a total of 12,884 votes to defeat his closest rival, Hon. Saubana Ajibola Muraina of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who scored 12,121 votes.
The tribunal, in its ruling on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, dismissed the petition filed by the APC House of Representatives candidate, Hon. Saubana Ajibola Muraina, for lack of merit and awarded a fine of one million, five hundred thousand naira (N1.5 million) against him.
The tribunal said the petition brought before the court by Hon. Muraina claiming there was over-voting in three wards during the election and non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2022 was illogical as there was no substantial evidence to back the allegation.
However, the tribunal awarded a cost of N500,000 in favour of INEC and N500,000 each in favour of Hon. (Dr) Anthony Adebayo Adepoju and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Reacting to the judgement, Hon. Adepoju expressed his appreciation to God Almighty for making it possible for the judgement to be fair and just.
The lawmaker also extended his gratitude to the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party both at the state and local level, Balogun Seye Famojuro, and the entire constituents of Ibarapa Central/North Federal Constituency.
