Jun 19th, 2008
Ondo tribunal nullifies two PDP lawmakers’ elections
IT was victory galore yesterday for the Labour Party (LP) in Ondo as the state elections petitions tribunal, in two separate judgments, nullified the election of two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the state.
The Justice Garba Nabaruma-led tribunal in one of its rulings, nullified the election of Adebusuyi Pius Idowu of the PDP and declared Oleyelogun Bamidele of the LP winner.
In an another judgment of the tribunal, the election of Dr. Temitayo Fawehinmi representing Ondo-East and Ondo-West Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, was nullified while the prayer of Dr. Joseph Iranola Akinlaja of the LP that election did not take place in the area was upheld.
In the first judgment read by Justice Andrew Edet Okon, which he tagged: “The case of Scale the Balance of Justice” hold that Fawehinmi was not duly elected in the April 21, 2008, House of Representatives election in the state as it was marred by irregularities, hijacking of ballot papers and manipulation of results.
Akinlaja is former National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) secretary general, erstwhile chairman of Lagos Mainland Local Council, deputy president of the NLC and national deputy chairman of the LP.
Okon, however, ordered that election to the constituency should be conducted by INEC within three months and awarded N10,000 cost against the first respondent (Fawehinmi).
According to him, the petitioner (Akinlaja) through his counsel, Dr. Olumide Ayeni, has proved his case beyond reasonable doubt by tendering some documents he obtained from INEC, which the tribunal took as “Balance the Scale of Justice” in this matter.
He added: “It has been established by the petitioner that there was no election on that day as all the cards brought to the tribunal by the witnesses of the respondent were not marked or ticked to show that there was election on that day.
“It is now clear that the respondent (Fawhehinmi) had failed to defend the allegation leveled against him that he led hoodlums, soldiers and policemen to hijack electoral materials and there was evidence that voters’ registers were not marked to show that people were accredited for the election”, he said.
Okon noted that it was also clear that one PDP agent signed more than one result sheet in different wards and that all the witnesses brought by the respondent were unable to convince the tribunal that election was held in the area, saying that there was fabrication of results and alteration of results in favour of the PDP.
In Bamidele’s case in the House of Assembly who was declared winner by the tribunal, Justice Umar Sadiq who read the judgment, said that Idowu’s victory as declared by INEC was contrary to the Electoral Act as he (Adebusuyi) did not have the lawful votes cast during the election.
He, however, declared that Bamidele won the election with 5,452 valid votes as against Pius Idowu of PDP’s 3,593.
According to him: “We have carefully perused all the arguments and written addresses of both counsel to the petitioner and that of respondents. It was discovered that the declaration of Pius Idowu Adebusuyi was non-compliant with the Electoral Act.
“We also hold that the petitioner has proved his case beyond reasonable doubt that elections in some wards, namely: Ibule, Ilara-Mokin, and Ipodun, did not hold as they were marred by irregularities, manipulation and fabrication of results in favour of the PDP candidate by INEC”, he said.
He said the tribunal discovered that the election malpractice affected 17 out of 26 wards in the area.
His words: “We also noticed that some result sheets were not signed at all while some were signed but were not stamped by INEC. Let’s also say here that the law has settled that documentary evidence are better than oral evidence”.
8 Responses to “Ondo tribunal nullifies two PDP lawmakers’ elections”
A total of 4 elections have been overturned turned between Monday June 14 and Friday June 20. Isn’t PDP in trouble?
It appears the PDP is yet see handwriting on the wall yet. The Guardian reports “Agagu woos Ondo opposition parties, pledges fairness”.
Only fools will jump on the PDP ship at this time. It has not only stopped sailing, it is sinking! Fast!!!!
Another nullification.
The second Election Petition Tribunal yesterday nullified the election of another member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon Igbekele Bolodeoku, who hitherto represented Ese-Odo Local Government Constituency on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
This brings to five the number of PDP legislators whose election have been nullified by the panel.
Only on Thursday, the Justice Garba Nabaruma-led tribunal declared the Labour Party (LP) candidate as the winner of the House of Assembly poll in Ifedore Local Government constituency.
Delivering judgement in the petition filed by LP’s Prince Ibukun Kalasuwe, Justice Maiwada Abdulahi affirmed that there were no elections in the constituency.
According to the judge, there were discrepancies in the number of votes said to have been recorded by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and those found in the bag after the exercise.
The tribunal also said it was discovered that political office holders, including the Secretary to the State Government, Barrister Isaacs Kekemeke, hijacked electoral materials and thumb-printed same, after which figures were allocated to parties including those that did not contest elections.
The tribunal therefore held that the petitioner had proved his case beyond reasonable and convinced that the exercise was null and void.
Another annulment – PDP 3-term Senator Ogunniya election annulled. Details later.
It is important to let the decent God-fearing Ondo State Citizens realize that OBJ and his political god-forsaken son have grounded the administration and progress of our State to a halt for over a year now. We, the sons and daughters of this greatly endowed State have been patient and enduring to see our State being run-down and administered by proclamations without much to show for their deceptiveness other than hardships and injustices. As wealthy as we are as a State, it is one of the most vividly economically depressed enclaves in Nigeria. Brothers and Sisters who are progenies of our honest, justice-loving and progressive ancestry, it is time to start bracing ourselves for the final lap of their deception. Ondo State will not settle for a re-run as other States have fallen for the Shams inflicted and deceptively forced on them by the evil-spirited, demonic, and God-forsaken INEC and PDP agenda drivers. We are decent, progressive and peace-loving people, but if pushed to the wall, which is what KOKUMO and OBJs INEC are trying to do, we must rise up and fight back for any air of injustices that may come our way in the pronouncements of the Tribunal. While this is not an incitement for violence, it is just a caution that needs to be sent out to whoever cares about the future of our State whose sun has been dimmed under a heartless administrator that claims to be a good Christian. With the verdicts annulling, overturning the so-called victories of Ogunniya, Ajayi, Fawehinmi, Speaker Bello and the rest of the party animals, and descents coming from those honorable judges handling Ondo State tribunals, I am confident that they will maintain their judicial integrities and follow suit in Agagu’s case. Agagu knows what the facts are on the night of that heavily rigged election of April 14, 2007. As a good boy whom I grew up with in Ibadan and a good Christian that he claims to be, he should please, for God’s sake, should not influence the supposedly honorable members of the Judiciary. I have to cast my doubts about any Nigerian who could readily be influenced with cash in the face of these hardships that OBJ has inflicted on us, and the Billions of Naira of our money that KOKUMO had helped himself to snatch away into his friends’ accounts. If the tribunal ruling or pronouncement goes anyway other than asking Segun to step aside for the rightful victor of that 2007 election, I pray to God Almighty to continue to give us the patience and fortitude to bear loosing our cool. At this point, it is no more in Iroko’s hands or domain to ask for more patience, it is the future of our Children and the disenfranchised in our State that would spark that impatience for justice to be done and expedited. Please, OBJ, Please KOKUMO and my sister Funke to demand justice from the tribunal and the PDP adjunct, INEC, in their delivery of injustices across Nigeria, to set the record straight on the Ondo State verdict. We are Ondo State people, not Kogi, not Edo, not Kanuris or Fulanis, or Bayelsans, I mean we are honorable, peace-loving and progressive people who detest being cheated. Please do the right thing in the name of God to save our dear State from the hands of these vampires cloaked in human flesh. His Excellency Segun Agagu, your untruthfulness, actions or inactions in the last one year with the deception, and evilness ranking Olusegun Lucifer Aremu Obasanjo’s foot steps must stop and pack out of the people’s house at Alagbaka. If you are going to appeal any verdict, do it from the outside. Thanks my dear despicable, unconscionable brother in Christ as you claim. See you when you get out of Alagbaka. We love you but we love our children and the unborn citizens of our blessed State as well. Funke has told you and warned you to do the right thing, about a year ago when you reacted unkindly towards her. Please, my brother, give Funke’s advice a re-think for the sake of you grand children as well.
It is important to let the decent God-fearing Ondo State Citizens realize that OBJ and his political god-forsaken son have grounded the administration and progress of our State to a halt for over a year now. We, the sons and daughters of this greatly endowed State have been patient and enduring to see our State being run-down and administered by proclamations without much to show for their deceptiveness other than hardships and injustices. As wealthy as we are as a State, it is one of the most vividly economically depressed enclaves in Nigeria. Brothers and Sisters who are progenies of our honest, justice-loving and progressive ancestry, it is time to start bracing ourselves for the final lap of their deception.
Agagu knows what the facts are on the night of that heavily rigged election of April 14, 2007. As a good boy whom I grew up with in Ibadan and a good Christian that he claims to be, he should please, for God’s sake, should not influence the supposedly honorable members of the Judiciary. I have to cast my doubts about any Nigerian who could readily be influenced with cash in the face of these hardships that OBJ has inflicted on us, and the Billions of Naira of our money that KOKUMO had helped himself to snatch away into his friends’ accounts. If the tribunal ruling or pronouncement goes anyway other than asking Segun to step aside for the rightful victor of that 2007 election, I pray to God Almighty to continue to give us the patience and fortitude to bear loosing our cool. At this point, it is no more in Iroko’s hands or domain to ask for more patience, it is the future of our Children and the disenfranchised in our State that would spark that impatience for justice to be done and expedited. Please, OBJ, Please KOKUMO and my sister Funke to demand justice from the tribunal and the PDP adjunct, INEC, in their delivery of injustices across Nigeria, to set the record straight on the Ondo State verdict. We are Ondo State people, not Kogi, not Edo, not Kanuris or Fulanis, or Bayelsans, I mean we are honorable, peace-loving and progressive people who detest being cheated. Please do the right thing in the name of God to save our dear State from the hands of these vampires cloaked in human flesh. His Excellency Segun Agagu, your untruthfulness, actions or inactions in the last one year with the deception, and evilness ranking Olusegun Lucifer Aremu Obasanjo’s foot steps must stop and pack out of the people’s house at Alagbaka. If you are going to appeal any verdict, do it from the outside. Thanks my dear despicable, unconscionable brother in Christ as you claim. See you when you get out of Alagbaka. We love you but we love our children and the unborn citizens of our blessed State as well. Funke has told you and warned you to do the right thing, about a year ago when you reacted unkindly towards her. Please, my brother, give Funke’s advice a re-think for the sake of you grand children as well.
I ABOLUWODI MICHEAL AYODELE,ON BEHALF OF MY LATE DAD,HON ADESUNLOYE ABOLUWODI,FORMER LABOUR PARTY CHAIRMAN FOR OSE L.G WISHES TO CONGRATULATE HIS EXCELLENCY,DR OLUSEGUN MIMIKO AND HIS ENTIRE FAMILY LONG LIFE AND GOOD HEALTH THROUGHOUT HIS STAY ON EARTH.MORE GREESE TO YOUR ELBOW AS YOU SADDLE THE SHIP OF ONDO STATE. LONG LIVE MIMIKO,LONG LIVE ONDO STATE,LONG LIVE LABOUR PARTY. Madrid,Spain
I BARRISTER ABOLUWODI FEYISAYO ABIDEMI CONGRATULATES DR OLUSEGUN MIMIKO FOR HIS VICTORY. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST OF LUCK IN THE ONDO STATE ADMINISTRATIONS. IROKO GBA SIBE !!!