(1) A person who is entitled to be a petitioner in respect of the election to which an election petition relates may, within 5 days after the publication by the Registrar in the Gazette of the notice of application for leave to withdraw the petition under rule 14(2), make an application as set out in Form 15 of the Schedule to the Court to be substituted as a petitioner for the petitioner who desires to withdraw the election petition, and the judge may at the trial of the application, if he or she thinks fit, substitute the applicant as a petitioner.
(2) Where in the opinion of the judge, the proposed withdrawal of an election petition is induced by any corrupt practice or consideration or is the result of any agreement, terms or undertaking prohibited by these Rules, he or she may, by order, direct that the security given on behalf of the original petitioner remains as security for any costs that may be incurred by the substituted petitioner.
(3) If no order under subrule (2) is made with respect to the security given on behalf of the original petitioner, security to the same amount as would be required in the case of an original petitioner and subject to like conditions, shall be given on behalf of the substituted petitioner within 5 days after the order of substitution is made and before he or she takes any step in the proceedings.
(4) Subject to this rule, a substituted petitioner shall stand in the same position, as nearly as may be, and be subject to the same liabilities, as the original petitioner.