In line with the lamentation by Zamfara state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party over dismissal of the state governorship election petition, the party has also expressed shock over the ruling by Lagos state National Assembly election petition against its senatorial candidate.
The Lagos election tribunal led by Justice Sylvester Oriji dismissed the petition of the party’s senatorial candidate, Segun Adewale stating that the petitioner failed to discharge the evidence of proof of corrupt practices or non-compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended
Adewale who contested the senatorial seat for Lagos West constituency on the platform of the PDP was challenging the declaration of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Solomon Adeola, by the Independent National Electoral Commission as the winner of the March 28 election.
According to Daily Trust, the party said that the ruling did not reflect the people’s will.
The PDP spokesman in Lagos, Taofiq Gani said the party may appeal the verdict, adding that it betrayed the expectations of the people of Lagos West, who have voted massively for the PDP candidate.
He said: “The judgment is not the expectations of our people who voted massively for our candidate, he is a popular person and people had expected that the tribunal would return the mandate to us, but it is unfortunate it has gone this way.”
The party spokesman said that the tribunal ruled against the party’s case on technical ground of not having enough witnesses to support the evidences provided.
He noted that they never hoped things would turn out but that the party had strong belief in the judicial process which is why no one will ever resort to violence, National Mirror reports.
Gani said: “It is sad that the judiciary has been bastardised and has become cash and carry. I won in seven local government areas while Adeola won in three local government areas. The CCT copy from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, showing this result was presented to the tribunal, but instead of looking at it, it resorted to technicalities. This is not fair. It shows that the constitution and the election tribunal favour the defendant than the petitioner.
“Mr Adeola scores 249,000 votes and it was inflated to 429,000 votes. We took the CCT copy from INEC to the tribunal as a proof and that the tribunal should deduct the number they added, but it is sad that they resorted to technicalities. I will not relent. I will head to the Appeal Court to regain my mandate.”
The APC, on its part, hailed the verdict, describing it as a confirmation of the people’s wish.
Senator Adeola said that he was grateful to the people of his constituency for standing by him.
He said: “A court of competent jurisdiction has upheld my election after examining all the documents brought before it. Now that the tribunal is over, it is time to get to work. I promise to work to uplift my constituency.”
The ruling party in a statement on Monday, September 21, said Governor Nyesome Wike is spending his last days in office.
The Lagos election tribunal led by Justice Sylvester Oriji dismissed the petition of the party’s senatorial candidate, Segun Adewale stating that the petitioner failed to discharge the evidence of proof of corrupt practices or non-compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended
Adewale who contested the senatorial seat for Lagos West constituency on the platform of the PDP was challenging the declaration of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Solomon Adeola, by the Independent National Electoral Commission as the winner of the March 28 election.
According to Daily Trust, the party said that the ruling did not reflect the people’s will.
The PDP spokesman in Lagos, Taofiq Gani said the party may appeal the verdict, adding that it betrayed the expectations of the people of Lagos West, who have voted massively for the PDP candidate.
He said: “The judgment is not the expectations of our people who voted massively for our candidate, he is a popular person and people had expected that the tribunal would return the mandate to us, but it is unfortunate it has gone this way.”
The party spokesman said that the tribunal ruled against the party’s case on technical ground of not having enough witnesses to support the evidences provided.
He noted that they never hoped things would turn out but that the party had strong belief in the judicial process which is why no one will ever resort to violence, National Mirror reports.
Gani said: “It is sad that the judiciary has been bastardised and has become cash and carry. I won in seven local government areas while Adeola won in three local government areas. The CCT copy from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, showing this result was presented to the tribunal, but instead of looking at it, it resorted to technicalities. This is not fair. It shows that the constitution and the election tribunal favour the defendant than the petitioner.
“Mr Adeola scores 249,000 votes and it was inflated to 429,000 votes. We took the CCT copy from INEC to the tribunal as a proof and that the tribunal should deduct the number they added, but it is sad that they resorted to technicalities. I will not relent. I will head to the Appeal Court to regain my mandate.”
The APC, on its part, hailed the verdict, describing it as a confirmation of the people’s wish.
Senator Adeola said that he was grateful to the people of his constituency for standing by him.
He said: “A court of competent jurisdiction has upheld my election after examining all the documents brought before it. Now that the tribunal is over, it is time to get to work. I promise to work to uplift my constituency.”
The ruling party in a statement on Monday, September 21, said Governor Nyesome Wike is spending his last days in office.
