The Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, on Friday, nullified the election of Dino Melaye (PDP), representing Kogi West Senatorial District.
Delivering judgement, the three-man panel led by Justice A. O. Chijioke had unanimously held that the election was shrouded in controversy and marred by widespread malpractices.
Melaye scored a total of 85,395 votes to defeat his APC opponent, Smart Adeyemi who got 66,902.
Dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, the APC candidate filed the petition challenging Melaye’s declaration by INEC as the winner of the election.
Adeyemi had hinged the petition on three grounds of irregularities, over voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).
The panel, therefore, ordered that only a fresh election would settle the disputes that emanated from the conduct of the election.
The panel, therefore, ordered INEC to conduct fresh election for the Senatorial District within 90 days.
Melaye was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2007 to represent Kabba/Ijumu Federal Constituency.
The out-spoken lawmaker served two terms and later contested and won election as a senator representing Kogi West in 2015.
Melaye, in an attempt to consummate his his second term as a senator, went ahead to contest the February 2019 senatorial election.
The Kabba-born politician had also expressed interest to contest the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State on the platform of the PDP slated for November 16.
Reacting to the decision on his Twitter handle, Melaye said he would get judgement at the Appeal Court.
“No cause for alarm at all. Even if it went my way, they will still go to the Appeal Court. Our mandate cannot be taken. We will get judgement at the Appeal Court.
“There will be fresh election in Kogi West because I will be Governor. For my Senate mandate, no shaking,’’ he wrote.
He described the judgement as a total miscarriage of justice.
“The judgement is full of importation of information that are alien to the case”
“I, however, commend the courage and moral strength of the chairman of the tribunal for resisting evil and standing on the path of justice”
“I have confidence in the Appeal Court to right the wrongs contained in the pronouncements of the judgement”
“I also want to tell those jubilating that their jubilation will be short-lived while appealing to my teeming supporters to remain calm as their mandate is safe and secured and cannot be taken through any mischievous means”
“However, our legal team is already working on appealing the judgement and I assure all that justice will prevail”.
