BY: Admin
The Appeal Court on Friday nullified the election of the senator representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye.
Melaye, who made the disclosure via his verified twitter handle said the court ordered a fresh election.
He however, expressed hope in winning the re-election ordered by the court and asked his supporters to be law-abiding, noting that he and his supporters will “always overcome”.
“I just lost my election at the Appeal Court and fresh election ordered. In all things, I give God the praise. He who started the good thing will definitely complete it. I ask my supporters to be law-abiding as we shall always overcome. To God be the Glory,” he tweeted.
Earlier, the Kogi State National Assembly Election Tribunal had nullified Melaye’s election, but the senator appealed the ruling.
Melaye, who was a candidate of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, was declared winner of the February election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
However, Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress, APC, had challenged Melaye’s victory in court.
Adeyemi challenged Melaye’s victory on three grounds of irregularities, overvoting and non-compliance with the electoral acts.
But the Court of Appeal on Friday agreed with the tribunal and ordered a fresh election in Kogi West Senatorial District.
Melaye had asked the court of Appeal to set aside the judgment.
In the notice of appeal dated September 5, 2019, Melaye had raised 23 grounds of appeal, in which he faulted the majority decision of the tribunal.
Melaye also sought an order of the Court of Appeal to allow his appeal, and an order sustaining his objection to the petition or dismissing the petition and confirming his electoral victory.
The appeal, which was filed for Melaye by Rickey Tarfa (SAN) cited Senator Smart Adeyemi, All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the respondents.
