The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure today, Tuesday, 8th October, slated for mention, the Appeal brought before it by the Member representing Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Bamidele Salam.
Hon. Salam is asking the Court of Appeal to set aside the earlier Judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal that ordered Rerun elections in Twelve Polling Units of the Constituency. He cited 38 grounds of Appeal.
The Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who lost the February 23 House of Representatives Election, Hon. Adejare Bello, also approached the Court of Appeal in a Cross-Appeal that he filed, seeking total cancellation of the House of Representatives Election in the four Local Governments making up the Constituency.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also approached the Appellate Court asking the Court to nullify the Tribunal Judgment that ordered Rerun in 12 units. The Commission cited several grounds of Appeal that included the Tribunal’s misinterpretation of Electoral Guidelines.
A careful study of the September 2 Judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal indeed showed clear misinterpretations of the Guidelines for conduct of Elections.
The Tribunal for example, cancelled elections in five units after adding total valid votes, rejected ballots and spoilt ballots to arrive at figures of total votes cast.
INEC’s guidelines clearly states that spoilt ballots cannot be added to the total votes cast.
The appeal and cross-appeals were today mentioned at the Akure appellate court and parties allowed to table necessary information before it.
Hearing was subsequently fixed for October 15, 2019 when the parties will argue their cases and present their positions.
Courtesy: BS Media Team
