The Court of Petition of Elections to the National and State Assemblies in Abeokuta on thursday he stated Solomon Adeola as a duly elected senator for Ogun’s western district in the February 25 National Assembly election.
Handing down its sentence in a petition filed by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) senatorial candidate Dada Adeleke, the three-man panel headed by Judge Kabir Gabo dismissed Mr. Adeleke’s petition for lack of merit.
The panel also held that two witnesses called by the petitioner did not provide valid evidence to substantiate the allegations that the election did not comply with the Electoral Law and constitutional requirements, as well as with the manual voting procedure.
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According to the court, the petitioner’s request that Mr. Adeola’s victory be declared null, void and without consequences, could not prosper or be granted as it was not meritorious.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adeola got 112,887 votes to defeat Adeleke, who got 60,189 in the election.
Adeola’s lawyer, Deji Eniseyin, reacted, describing the verdict as a victory for democracy and a confirmation of the law’s position on the matter.
But Festus Ogun, one of the lawyers representing the petitioner, said they would review the ruling and advise his client accordingly.
“We will review the judgment and advise our client on the next course of action,” he said.
(YAYA)