By Ayobami Ife, Abeokuta
The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting at the Magistrate Court in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, on Thursday has affirmed the victory of Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola as the duly elected Senator for Ogun West Senatorial District in the last February 25 National Assembly election.
Delivering its judgement in the Senatorial election Petition marked EPT/OG/Sen/2023 and filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial Candidate, Chief Dada Ganiu Adeleke, Justice Kabir Gabo – led 3 -‘man panel dismissed Adeleke’s petition for “lacking in merit.”
The panel affirmed Senator Adeola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the validly elected Senator for Ogun West as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
It also held that the two witnesses called by the petitioner failed to give valid evidence to substantiate the allegations of the election not complying with the electoral act, constitutional requirement and manual voting procedure.
Regarding the allegation of electoral malpractices against the respondent, Justice Gabo held that the petitioner failed to prove area and poling units where such malpractices occured and described the petition as mere “academic exercise.”
Also, the prayer of the petitioner that the victory of Senator Adeola be declared null, void and of no consequence as well as the alternative prayer that he should be declared the winner of the senatorial election could not stand or be granted for lack of merit, according to the Tribunal.
The Tribunal therefore struck out the petition and dismissed it in its entirety. It also awarded N500k cost against the petitioner in favour of the respondent.
Reacting to the Tribunal’s decision, Senator Adeola’s counsel, Deji Eniseyin described the verdict as a victory for democracy and a confirmation of the position of the law on the case.
Eniseyin said all the issues raised by the petitioner were thoroughly treated and resolved – all in favour of the respondent.
But Mr. Festus Ogun, one of the counsel representing the petitioner, said they will review the judgement and advise their client accordingly.
“We will review the judgement and advise our client on the next course of action. We have applied for the judgement to test it. The Tribunal has right to be wrong but we have the right too to approach the Court of Appeal to correct the wrong,” ogun said.
