By Dayo Benson, Political Editor, Demola Akinyemi & Gbenga Ariyibi
ILORIN — THE Action Congress (AC) senatorial candidate in Ekiti Central Senatorial District in the last election, Mr Ola Festus Bode, was yesterday declared the winner by the Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin.
Mr Bode is to replace the incumbent senator, Mr Adefemi Kila of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) currently in the National Assembly.
Delivering the lead Judgment, Justice Sotonye Denton-West said the respondent after a deduction of invalid votes from the initial votes credited to PDP candidate by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has a total of 19,653 votes as against 38,563 credited to the appellant as lawful votes.
According to the appellate court, the physical counting of the votes cards revealed that about 19,000 votes possess the same serial number.
Justice Denton-West said since the respondent could not challenge the evidence at the lower tribunal, it would be difficult for the appellate court to grant a specific prayer on it.
The lower tribunal had cited technicality for not considering the ground of the appellant at that level of adjudication.
But Denton-West posited that the era of technicality was over, adding that since the evidence was not challenged at the lower tribunal, it is an acceptance that it was not controverted.”
According to him, “after subtracting the valid votes from the invalid ones, the appellant has a majority lawful votes, and based on these majority lawful votes, the appellant is so declared as the winner of the election.
The appellant had at the lower tribunal led evidence in which the respondent was alleged to have inflated the votes credited to him by about 19,000.
Reacting to the verdict, AC governorship candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi said: “It’s victory for truth, resilience, consistency and doggedness. It’s a vindication of the position that AC was the party voted for by Ekiti people. The revelation is now coming out. It was the same Femi who was shouting during the re-run result on NTA, now, he has got the result he asked for.
“It’s also an indication of what is to come in the Ekiti North Senatorial District which we have won at the lower tribunal, when Senator Ayo Arise will be also be swept out from that position. It’s also a strong indication for our people that they should stand for what they believe in. This is a victory for the people and no just for Bode Ola, he is only the vehivle.
Meanwhile, the Action Congress has hailed the judgement,describing it as a sweet reward for perseverance and doggedness.
Kila(what a name) almost killed the hopes and aspirations of people with his antics.Haba!PDP,how come 19,000 votes had same serial number?I read the response of PDP vocal saying AC won the mandate from the back door:please,show me how an election could be won from the ‘front door “with 19,000stolen votes.People should see why PDP was asking for the re-run in OSE local government with the slogan that there are 19,000 voters but on the day of the election,less than three thousand turned up!Let us call this ONE GONE,MANY TO GO and out of the many to go,we have:Ayo Arise,Segun Oni etc.
PEACE
Here comes the JUDGEMENT DAY!Glory be to the He that custodized the Judgement Day.Astonishly,this country could still have people like Retired Justice of the Supreme Court,Justice Belgore who does not fear any being on earth no matter how big/influential you are,infact Justice Sotonye Denton-West has proofed himself in the legal field beyond expectation.Thank you very much and your team for the judiciously dispensed verdict based on evidences without any technicalities.May God guide and bless you all.So,the era of this evil excuse(TECHNICALITY) in upturning JUDGEMENT has gone for GOOD.As for PEE DEE PEE,happy sorrow!Femi Beared has gone.Tribute to the CONSERVATIVES in the HOUSE OF SENATE.
It is an indication that one day,Nigeria will survive.Like a bank’s gingle ”one day cars will drive themselves”I salute the courage of the court.The judiciary should brase up for the remaining bad eggs.We don’t need to mention their names,they surely know themselves.With some of these judgements(Delta,Ondo gubernatorial),we have hope that one day,we will surely get to the land of our dreams.KILLER OUT,FESTUS IN!
We the people of Ekiti are very happy cos of this judgement, yes Ayo Arise and Segun oni should be ready to return our mandate to the people we gave them to
what baffles me most about this stupid men called arise and kila is that they are bench warmers on the floor of the senate. they have never sponsored a bill, neither have they moved any meaningful motion. they belong to the ‘i support the motion’ group. they have failed to realised that the almighty God have removed his helpful hand from their activities, thats why they are now loosing and they will continue to loose until ekiti is purged of this devis incarnate, agents of the satanic minded “do or die politician”
Yes Oyinlola, Arise and others like them should get set to pack
Shame on Femi Kila and PDP(Peoples Deceitful Party) in Ekiti State. One down, two more to go, i.e. Ayon Arise and Olusegun Oni.
Thank God. This fake senator kila was one of the people that was arrested by the police during the ekiti re-run election becasue he was found with guns, they rigged election and now the truth is out. Ayo arise, Segun Oni and Oyinlola of Osun State, you are next