By Julius Alabi, Akure
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ondo State Chapter has replaced Akin Jinadu Esq
at the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure over its missing logo from the ballot paper during the last National Assembly election.
The NNPP has appointed another counsel, Segun Ogodo Esq of Segun Ogodo & Co as the new counsel in respect of the matter.
The party while filing the notice of change of Counsel at the Tribunal in Akure urged the Election Petition Tribunal that all court processes and correspondence be served on the 1st Petitioner’s new Counsel address stated Supra.
The party through the State Chairman, Pastor Peter Olagookun and the State Secretary, Comrade Adekunle Oluwayomi had denied withdrawing the case jointly Instituted by it and Dr Olusegun Phillips-Alonge, the senatorial candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Ondo North Senatorial District.
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“It is not true that NNPP has withdrawn the case from the Tribunal or did Dr Olusegun Phillips-Alonge, the senatorial candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Ondo North Senatorial District have such power to withdraw his petition challenging the declaration of Pastor Jide Ipinsagba, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a winner without informing the party,” the party said.
Ogodo, the new counsel and State Secretary of the party, Comrade Adekunle Oluwayomi while filing the motion on Notice today at the Tribunal sought an Order that the notice of discontinuance dates 31st March 2023 and purportedly filed on behalf of the Petitioner on 3rd April 2023 without the consent of 1st Petitioner is applicable and limited to the 2nd Petitioner alone and not binding on the 1st Petitioner who is interested in prosecution the petition.
The party however sought an order to strike out the name of the 2nd Petitioner alone from the petition as supplicated in his notice of discontinuance and retain the name of the 1st Petitioner on the petition to enable it to continue to prosecute its petition to finality in the interest of justice and fair hearing.