APC heads for tribunal to challenge over Kashamu
THE
candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun-East senatorial
district, Dapo Abiodun, has filed a petition before the state National
Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal to challenge the victory of the
winner, Buruji Kashamu.
Kashamu polled 99, 540 votes to defeat
eight other candidates. Abiodun was the first runner-up in the election
while Adegbenga Kaka of the Social Democratic Party was the second
runner up.
In the petition, Abiodun argued that
Kashamu was not qualified to contest the election and that he did not
score the highest number of lawful votes as required by law.
The
petitioner, who said he would rely on form EC8E (1) to prove his case,
further alleged that Kashamu and his party, the Peoples Democratic
Party, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the state
Resident Electoral Commissioner, who were joined as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th
respondents respectively, failed to comply with all the electoral laws.
The petition read, “The election of
Buruji Kashamu is invalid by reason of substantial non-compliance with
the provisions of Electoral Act 2015 (as amended), the manual for
Election Officials 2015, the guidelines issued for the conduct of the
election.”
“The election of Kashamu is invalid by
reason of corrupt practices and electoral malpractices perpetrated by
the first respondents in person and members and agents of the 1st and
2nd respondents in the places mentioned in this petition.
“Kashamu was not qualified to contest the election.”
Abiodun urged the court to nullify all
the results from polling units and wards where the requisite forms were
not completed, dated, signed or stamped by the concerned officials.
However, the media aide to Kashamu,
Austin Oniyokor, had earlier said in a statement that his principal was
prepared to meet any petitioner at the tribunal, describing the APC’s
allegation of rigging as unfounded.
The statement read, “The claims by the
APC are totally unfounded. Ordinarily, we would not have dignified them
with a response. You can see that the statement is lacking in substance.
If they say there were rigging, intimidation and manipulation during
the election, they should supply the details, rather than hiding under
some nebulous excuses that say nothing.
“At any rate, the Electoral Act has made
provision for the ventilation of issues arising from an election. They
should go to the tribunal to prove their case.’’
APC heads for tribunal to challenge over Kashamu
Reviewed by Nedugist
on
6:06 AM
Rating:
No comments:
Post a Comment