Kogi West: Melaye going, going…loses to Adeyemi in Appeal Court

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday set aside the decision of the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Kogi which struck out the petition of Senator Smart Adeyemi.
Adeyemi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had challenged the election of Senator Dino Melaye of the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging electoral irregularities and malpractices.
Justice Muhammed Adume held that the tribunal was wrong in striking out Adeyemi’s petition on the grounds of technicalities, instead of substantial justice.
The appellate court, therefore, remitted the case to the tribunal for “trial on merit’’.
The court further held that the decision of the tribunal that Adeyemi did not file his petition within the time frame allowed by law was wrong and nullified it forthwith.
Adume said the respondents did not provide sufficient evidence before the tribunal that the petition was filed late.
The tribunal had dismissed the petition of Adeyemi, a one-time National President, Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) for late filing.
The tribunal Chairman, Justice Akon Ikpeme, had in his ruling of June 18, held that the Kogi West ex-Senator’s case was “incurably defective’’.
Melaye, had a few weeks ago, cried out that some leaders of the APC wanted him out of the Senate for supporting the emergence of Dr. Bukola Saraki as Senate President.