Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has commended the various judgements which has come out of the National/State Assemblies Election Tribunal since it started hearing election petitions on the 2019 General Elections in the state. The Governor hailed yesterday’s judgment which nullified the Kogi West Senatorial District election won by Dino Melaye of the PDP. He also noted that the Tribunal had earlier upheld the elections of APC’s in the Central and Eastern axis of the state where David Zachariah of Idah Federal Constituency and Hon Joseph Bello Asuku of Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency had their victories affirmed. Governor Bello stated that the decisions further vindicated the judiciary as an unbiased, independent and impartial body.
Governor Bello gave the commendation in a statement entitled ”Kogi State National Assembly/State Assembly Election Tribunal Verdict: Attestation that Judiciary is on Course”.
In the statement made available to newsmen in Lokoja on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed, Bello said the separate judgments which nullified the Kogi West Senatorial Election on the 23rd, reaffirmation of the victories of Asuku Bello on the 20th and Hon David Zachariah on the 22nd were clear attestation that the judiciary was solidly on course and working in line with the aspiration of people.
The Governor said in spite of the intimidation, unnecessary accusations and rumour-mongering, the Tribunal lived up to expectations by dispensing justice without fear or favour.
“The court did not give its judgement based on whimsical grounds but acted on the basis of the merits and demerits of the case before it.
“The election Tribunal and the entire Judiciary, therefore, merits our commendation for it has further strengthened the democratic and electioneering processes in Nigeria”.
”for upholding the petition by Senator Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and ordered that a fresh election be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the tribunal, led by Justice A.O. Chijioke has proved to the world that the people’s mandate was stolen in the last Kogi West Senatorial Election” Bello said.
While congratulating Sen Adeyemi, Governor Bello said he was hopeful that the Appeal Court will find the judgment compelling and uphold it. He insisted that the judgment has removed all doubts that the election which produced the PDP candidate as the winner was fraught with irregularities.
The governor also congratulated the All Progressives Congress on Hon David Zachariah and Hon Bello Asuku victories at the election tribunal.
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