NASS Poll: Adereti Heads To Appeal Court, Rejects Tribunal Ruling

By Olalekan Olawale

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC, Engineer Kayode Adereti has rejected the ruling of the Sound State National/House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal which nullified his petition against the victory of candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the February 25 National Assembly Election, Hon. Taofeek Ajilesoro.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the candidate of the peoples Democratic Party, Hon. Taofeek Ajilesoro as the winner of the February 25 National Assembly Election in Ife federal constituency.

The 3-man panel of judges led by Hon. Justice Ado Y. Burning Kudu, Justice Ngozi L. Oyeka and Justice Jibril Z. Umar had declared that the petitioners, APC, and Mr Adereti failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt.

“I rejected the tribunal judgement in its entirety. It is a pervasion of Justice. We are studying the judgement and necessary action would be taken. The tribunal acknowledged that the certificate of 1st respondent was forged yet afraid of giving justice.

“I want to enjoin my followers to maintain peace and order and go about their normal business. We will do the needful after proper consultation and study”, Adereti declared.

He said the tribunal is heir in law to have said the issue of certificate forgery was a pre-election matter when the constitution has stated provision for the removal of MHR, section J subsection 131, stated that if a candidate present a forged certificate to INEC, such a candidate shall be removed.

Adereti noted that this does not constitute pre-election matter but it is within the party. He made reference to NNPP in Kano State where a candidate presented forged certificate, the court disqualified the candidate. One should not be a beneficiary of fraud.

“I know the court is confused but a deliberate pervasion of Justice. But justice delayed is not justice denied. I have a good case at hand but the court decided to look other way.

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“I am still consulting my lawyers and party leaders and we will do the needful as soon as possible. I won the election and the 1st respondent did not qualify to contest for election based on his certificate,” he said.

He said that he contested February 25 House of Representatives poll in the interest of Ife federal constituency and since past four years the PDP candidate has not done anything meaningful to the constituency. No meaningful impact in the life of the people, describing it as a misrepresentation for Ifeland.

He said he would reclaim his mandate through legal process. “If God says it is my time so be it but if it is otherwise so be it. I want to appeal to my followers to allow peace to reing”.

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“They should not take laws into their hands. They should remain undaunted despite provocation from the PDP paid non state actors. We will not allow miscarriage of Justice as done by the three-man panel NASS tribunal,” Adereti said..

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