BY OLA AJAYI

IBADAN — The National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petitions Appeal Tribunal in Ibadan  has dismissed the appeal filed by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, candidate, Lanre Agoro against his opponent, Mr.  Jimoh Afees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The ACN candidate had challenged the judgment of a lower tribunal which confirmed the election of Jimoh Afees as the member representing Irepo/Olorunsogo/Orelope Federal Constituency.

While upholding the result of the election in a unanimous judgment on Friday,  Honourable Justice Chidi  Uwa, dismissed the appeal of the ACN candidate for lack of merit and awarded N30,000 cost against him.

The lower tribunal had on April 16, 2011 nullified the election that first elected the ACN candidate into the legislative arm and ordered a re-run election which also had to be conducted  twice in February and the PDP candidate  was confirmed as the winner.

Dissatisfied with the result, the ACN candidate challenged the result at the lower tribunal but lost.

Reacting to the judgement,  Afees said the judgment was the end of the road for the ACN.

He said, “Our people spoke two times through the polls but the opposition chose not to heed the voices of reason. Now, the Judiciary, which is the bastion of hope for the common man, has spoken resoundingly in our favour.

“The game is up for those trying to snatch a mandate that does not belong to them.”