Kogi West: Why Melaye’s election was upheld

ITRealms:

The late filing of election petition by former Senator representing Kogi West, forced the Election Petition Tribunal in Lokoja to upheld the election of Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) who won on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), reports ITRealms.

The Tribunal judge, ITRealms gathered dismissed the case for lack of merit as the petitioner, Senator Adeyemi, filed his papers very late.

Adeyemi, ITRealms recalled had dragged Melaye to the National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal in Lokoja, alleging irregularities in the conduct of the election as well as the result declared by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on March 28, 2015.

The case was consequently dismissed for lack of merit because the plaintiff (Smart Adeyemi) filed his reply and preliminary objections late.

The conclusion of the Judge was that "the case be dismissed as abandoned."

Over 131 legal practitioners including Messers Ricky Terfa (SAN); Femi Falana (SAN) and civil rights activist, Festus Keyamo, have offered free legal services to Senator-elect for Kogi West Senatorial District, Otunba Dino Melaye.

Reacting to the outcome, Melaye declared: "This is not a season of boasts, I have defeated him and I will also defeat Smart Adeyemi because he is not on ground; even if election is conducted 100 times, I will floor him. Over 128 lawyers including two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) such as Ricky Terfa, Femi Falana and Festus Keyamo have offered  to give me free legal services (pro bono)."

In the petition filed by his counsel, Mr J.O. Olatoke (SAN), in which INEC is the third respondent, Adeyemi had claimed that Melaye was not duly elected or returned by the majority of the lawful votes cast during the election adding that he (Adeyemi) should be declared the winner.

The petitioner said he scored the majority of lawful votes cast during the election and ought to have been declared the winner.

According to the petitioner, the declaration of Melaye as winner was wrongful and invalid.

“Melaye was declared the winner of the election because of wrong and/or incorrect computation of lawful votes cast and intentional omission of collating results of the polling units won by the petitioners and counting of spoilt ballots in his favour", Adeyemi stated.

 
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