Yahaya Bello
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has hailed the judgement of the
Court Of Appeal which upheld the earlier judgement of the Kogi State
National Assembly Election Tribunal nullifying the Kogi West Senatorial election,
stating that it further vindicates his earlier position that the
opposition Peoples Democratic Party manipulated the elections.
He praised the judiciary for again distinguished itself as unbiased, independent and impartial institution.
Governor Bello gave the commendation in a statement entitled ”Kogi West Appeal Court Verdict: Attestation that Judiciary is Impartial” released his media office, even as he felicitated with Adeyemi on his victory at the courts.
In the statement made available to newsmen in Lokoja on Friday by
his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed, Bello said the judgment of
the Tribunal which nullified the Kogi West Senatorial Election on the
23rd of September and the Court of Appeal’s verdict delivered some hours
ago upholding the said tribunal judgement clearly attests that the
judiciary was solidly on course and working in line with the aspiration
of people.
The Governor said in spite of the intimidation, unnecessary
accusations and rumour-mongering, the tribunal and the Court Of Appeal
have lived up to their expectations by dispensing justice without fear
or favour.
”For upholding the petition by Senator Smart Adeyemi of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) and ordering that a fresh election be
conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the
constituency, the tribunal, led by Justice A.O. Chijioke and the Appeal
Court have jointly proved to the world that the people’s mandate was
stolen in the last Kogi West Senatorial Election” Bello said.
“The courts did not decide in a vacuum but acted on the basis of the merits and demerits of the case before them.
“The Appeal Court and the entire Judiciary, therefore, deserves
our commendation for further strengthening the democratic and
electioneering processes in Nigeria”.
He, therefore, congratulated the people of Kogi West Senatorial
District, noting that the Appeal Court judgement was a reclamation of
their stolen mandate. He said he was confident the people will turn out
en mass to elect Senator Smart Adeyemi of the APC in the re-run election
which date shall be announced by the Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC in due course.