Anxiety As Tribunal Delivers Judgment Between Dino Melaye, Smart Adeyemi Today
Bearing in mind any last minute change, the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja will deliver judgment today between Dino Melaye and Smart Adeyemi to determine the authentic winner of the November 16 Kogi West senatorial rerun election.
There is palpable fear within the camp of Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Smart Adeyemi as Tribunal set to deliver judgment.
The Tribunal will deliver judgment on the petition brought before it by former Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Dino Melaye, who claimed he was the authentic winner of the election and prayed the court to be declared the winner having scored the highest number of valid votes.
Dino Melaye's Argument Ahead of Tomorrow's Judgment
Dino Melaye had argued that the November 16 senatorial return election was marred by violence, over-voting, manipulation of figures and other irregularities and called for total cancellation of the affected areas and thereby declared the winner of the election.
Melaye further argued that the 88,373 votes declared for Smart Adeyemi which he used to win the election were gotten through manipulation of figures in Lokoja and other local government areas.
Melaye who polled 62,133 votes insisted that he was the authentic winner of the election. If the Tribunal answers Dino Melaye's prayer today, then the block votes polled by Smart Adeyemi from Lokoja and few other local government will be canceled and declared him the winner of the election.
Dino Melaye had maintained that he has enough evidence to knockout the margin of Smart Adeyemi in the election he had described as "civil war" vowed to reclaim what he termed "stolen mandate".
Melaye also claimed to have visited all the 564 polling units in the senatorial district and witnessed the irregularities that happened on the day of the election.
Smart Adeyemi's Argument
Senator Smart Adeyemi in his defence had argued that he was the winner of the November 16 senatorial rerun election in Kabba, adding that he was the authentic winner of the election having polled 88,373 votes in the election he described as free, fair and credible.
The Counsel to Smart Adeyemi, Oladapa Otitoju, had queried Dino Melaye's ambiguous claim of visiting all the the 564 polling units on the day of election.
Oladapa Otitoju who also cross examined Principal witnesses of Dino Melaye during the defence, made them to confess that there was no violence on the day of election and that the election was free and fair.
As the Tribunal set to deliver judgment today, Smart Adeyemi is confident that his legal team did a great job through out the hearing and the defence and hope of winning at tomorrow's judgment.
The Anxiety Amongst The Two Camps
The camp of Dino Melaye and Smart Adeyemi are currently unsettled as the Court set to deliver judgment today.
While the camp of Dino hopes for victory for the vocal Senator to return to the hallowed chamber, the camp of Smart Adeyemi also hopes for victory of their candidate, a known rival of Dino Melaye.
The duo have been political enemies for long having contested for the same positions in the past. Dino is current fighting to be returned to the Senate chamber for the second time while Smart Adeyemi is currently running a third time and fighting for his election to be upheld.
All eyes will be on the three man justices of Kogi State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal headed by Justice
Kashim Kaigama to do justice in declaring the authentic winner of the election.
There is palpable fear within the camp of Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Smart Adeyemi as Tribunal set to deliver judgment.
The Tribunal will deliver judgment on the petition brought before it by former Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Dino Melaye, who claimed he was the authentic winner of the election and prayed the court to be declared the winner having scored the highest number of valid votes.
Dino Melaye's Argument Ahead of Tomorrow's Judgment
Dino Melaye had argued that the November 16 senatorial return election was marred by violence, over-voting, manipulation of figures and other irregularities and called for total cancellation of the affected areas and thereby declared the winner of the election.
Melaye further argued that the 88,373 votes declared for Smart Adeyemi which he used to win the election were gotten through manipulation of figures in Lokoja and other local government areas.
Melaye who polled 62,133 votes insisted that he was the authentic winner of the election. If the Tribunal answers Dino Melaye's prayer today, then the block votes polled by Smart Adeyemi from Lokoja and few other local government will be canceled and declared him the winner of the election.
Dino Melaye had maintained that he has enough evidence to knockout the margin of Smart Adeyemi in the election he had described as "civil war" vowed to reclaim what he termed "stolen mandate".
Melaye also claimed to have visited all the 564 polling units in the senatorial district and witnessed the irregularities that happened on the day of the election.
Smart Adeyemi's Argument
Senator Smart Adeyemi in his defence had argued that he was the winner of the November 16 senatorial rerun election in Kabba, adding that he was the authentic winner of the election having polled 88,373 votes in the election he described as free, fair and credible.
The Counsel to Smart Adeyemi, Oladapa Otitoju, had queried Dino Melaye's ambiguous claim of visiting all the the 564 polling units on the day of election.
Oladapa Otitoju who also cross examined Principal witnesses of Dino Melaye during the defence, made them to confess that there was no violence on the day of election and that the election was free and fair.
As the Tribunal set to deliver judgment today, Smart Adeyemi is confident that his legal team did a great job through out the hearing and the defence and hope of winning at tomorrow's judgment.
The Anxiety Amongst The Two Camps
The camp of Dino Melaye and Smart Adeyemi are currently unsettled as the Court set to deliver judgment today.
While the camp of Dino hopes for victory for the vocal Senator to return to the hallowed chamber, the camp of Smart Adeyemi also hopes for victory of their candidate, a known rival of Dino Melaye.
The duo have been political enemies for long having contested for the same positions in the past. Dino is current fighting to be returned to the Senate chamber for the second time while Smart Adeyemi is currently running a third time and fighting for his election to be upheld.
All eyes will be on the three man justices of Kogi State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal headed by Justice
Kashim Kaigama to do justice in declaring the authentic winner of the election.
Comments
Post a Comment
Disclaimer: The comments on the blog are the views and opinions of the readers and does not represent that of Confluence Reporters.