Razaq Bamidele
The national and state Houses of Assembly petition tribunal, sitting in Ikeja, on Wednesday, struck out the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Tajudeen Jaiyeola Agoro, challenging the election of a member of House of Representatives, Hon. Jide Jimoh of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency seat.
The election was held on February 23, 2019 across the Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency in the state.
The PDP candidate challenged the election on account of alleged unlawful declaration of Jide Jimoh as winner of the poll and claimed that the poll was marred with rigging, multiple thumb printing and did not comply with provisions of the Electoral Act.
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In a unanimous judgment, read by Justice Olamide, the tribunal held that the petitioner failed in all the petitions and held that he failed to prove non-compliance with the electoral act and how malpractices were carried out.
Reacting to the judgment at the press briefing held at the All Progressives Congress (APC) LGEA party Secretariat, Yaba, Hon Jide Jimoh praised the judiciary for remaining the hope and defender of the rights of the Nigerians.
“Today is a joyous day in the history of democracy and in particular Lagos Mainland Federal constituency. We have accepted the verdict in totality. We witnessed the verdict and the judges upheld our results as the winner of the election. I thank the three judges for a job well done for the justice delivered judiciously, in line with the constitutional provisions and electoral acts as amended.
“I also thank the Almighty God the ruler of heavens and the earth who has given us all the supports where necessary financially, physically, spiritually and emotionally. Our lawyer stood vehemently on this case for three months and victory has come. Today’s judgement is a victory for democracy, APC and Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency,” Jimoh stated.
The defence counsel to the lawmaker, Wahab Shittu, said the tribunal’s verdict has shown a victory for constitutional democracy and sanctity to the electoral process.
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“Today is a victory for constitutional democracy and Sanctity to the electoral process. Above all, it is a victory for Hon Jide Jimoh who has been confirmed as duly elected representative of the Lagos Mainland federal constituency. Today is also a mark for celebration and there is no law against celebration. We fought that battle and we won that’s why I give gratitude to the Almighty Allah and the supporters of the lawmaker who stood by him throughout the proceedings.
“Interestingly, the tribunal has delivered the verdicts and all the three members of the tribunal delivered a unanimous verdict. The tribunal confirmed that the election was conducted in substantial compliance with the provisions of the electoral acts. The tribunal also confirmed that there was no case of over voting, multiple thumb printing, forgery, no case of falsification of results, that everything was conducted within the provisions of the electoral acts and the winner is Hon Jide Jimoh,” Shittu concluded.
