Mimiko, Labour Party evade service of election petition

One week after political parties filed their petitions at the Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Akure, the Tribunal is finding it difficult to serve the respondents, Governor Olusegun Mimiko and Labour Party, LP.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered the Court Bailiff could not serve the Labour Party because the party’s office at Oyemekun road was locked and there was no one to receive the Tribunal processes.

Mr. Mimiko was also said to be unavailable to receive the Petition when the Tribunal Bailiff arrived at his office in Alagbaka to serve him.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been served with the petitions of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN and its candidate, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; as well as that of the Accord Party candidate, Olawale Ojo.

But the Accord party under the Chairmanship of Ajibola Falaiye distanced itself from the petition, saying that it did not even field a candidate for the October 20 elections.

Five political parties and their candidates filed petitions before the Governorship Election Tribunal to challenge the declaration of Mr. Mimiko as the winner of the October 20 Governorship Election in Ondo state.

The aggrieved Parties are:  ACN, Peoples Democratic Party, Accord Party (candidate), Congress for Progressive Change, and Peoples Democratic Change.

One of the counsels to ACN, Titiloye Charles, said the party’s legal team is wary of the fact that time is of essence in view of the 180 days lifespan of the petition

It has therefore demanded a bailiff report from the Tribunal in order to apply for substituted service if by the end of Thursday, the Respondents (Mimiko and the Labour Party) cannot be served personally.