•Senator Alli
The Appeal Court sitting in Lagos has upheld the judgment of the National Assembly Petition Tribunal which validated the victory of Senator Sharafadeen Alli (APC-Oyo South), as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
This is contained in a statement signed by Alli’s Special Adviser on Media, Akeem Abas, and made available to newsmen yesterday.
Alli won the separate appeals filed by Chief Joseph Tegbe of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Funmilola Gbogbolomo of New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), reports Sunday Independent.
The court dismissed Tegbe’s appeal on the grounds that it lacked merit, thereby affirming the judgment of the tribunal.
In Gbogbolomo’s appeal, the court rested the entire Judgement on the sole issue we distilled by the 1st Respondent (INEC).
The court agreed with the tribunal and defendants that it the case was a pre-election matter, while also agreeing that the appellant did not prove non-compliance.
The judges unanimously dismissed the appeal and awarded cost against the Appellant.
Tegbe and Gbogbolomo had appealed the judgments of the tribunal which dismissed their separate petitions against Alli’s victory in the February 25 National Assembly election in Oyo South.
Similarly, the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos, on Thursday, affirmed the victory of the member representing Aboh Mbaise/ Ngor Okpala federal constituency of Imo State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Matthew Nwogu.
The candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Akwitti Chibuzor, had challenged the Labour Party lawmaker’s victory at the Imo State National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, but after the Tribunal upheld Nwogu’s victory, the aggrieved APC candidate approached the Appeal Court for respite.
Ruling on the appeal, the three-man panel of Justices led by Hon. Justice Gumel dismissed the appeal, saying that it lacked merit.
Reacting to the judgment, Hon. Nwogu said he’s elated, describing the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
While urging the Judges to continue to do the right thing, he extended an olive branch to the aggrieved candidates, urging them to join hands with him and work together for the betterment of Aboh Mbaise nation.
Nwogu said: “I want to say that I am highly elated about the judgment. It means that the court is still the last hope of the common man, and also that God exists. In so many cases, money cannot buy judgment.
“In so many cases, irrespective of how we feel about the country. In so many places, money cannot buy judgment. I am very happy now that the case is over.
“After all these months since I have won the primary, I’ve been dragged to court. Finally, God has answered our prayers now that all this is over.”
