Judgment would be delivered by the Lagos state National Assembly election petitions tribunal on September 28 in a petition challenging the victory of the House leader, Femi Gbajabiamila of the All Progressives Congress.
Femi Gbajabiamila Filed photo
Challening the victory of Gbajabiamila who polled 21,715 to beat his closest rival of the Peoples Democratic Party, Tony Ashikodi, who got 14,500 votes said that the election was marred with irregularities, The Punch reports.
Ashikodi is praying the tribunal to nullify Gbajabiamila’s victory, adding that INEC should conduct a fresh election explaining that the House leader did not poll the highest votes cast.
After both parties counsel had submitted their arguments, the tribunal headed by Justice C.U Anwuka adjourned proceeding for judgment on September 28.
Counsel to the petitioner, Kalu Onuah, said that the tribunal was bound to declare as null and void the declaration by INEC that Gbajabiamila won the election in compliance with Section 53(2) of the Electoral Act, 2010 which mandated the nullification of any election where the number of votes cast exceeded the number of registered voters.
Onuah’s reason is hinged on the fact that agents at the polling units did not sign and counter-sign the result sheets saying this is enough ground for the nullification of the results.
However, Gbajabiamila’s lawyers, Omotayo Olatunbosun and T.N Olaitan said that Onuah’s interpretation of the law was misconceived stating that facts were misrepresented.
Meanwhile, Gbajabiamila had revealed that he is not in talking term with the immediate past Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal. The former speaker had said that he did not back Gbajabiamila’s speakership ambition because Dogara is more competence.
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