Justice Hamidu Kunasa the Chairman of the Tribunal of the House of Representatives Election Petition Tribunal, sitting at the Ikeja High Court annex office on the petition challenging the Ajeromi Federal Constituency election cancellation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has upheld the election and rerun election that brought in Hon. Kolawole Taiwo as the member of the House of Reps representing Ajeromi.
Justice Kunasa said that the basis by which the Petitioner Hon. Rita Orji promised her petition are largely not valid,citing the fact that INEC acted within the confines of constitutional frameworks in both the election of 23rd February 2019 and the consequent supplementary election held on April 27th 2019.
He also faulted the petitioner praying a court in Kubwa Abuja on a post election matter which is really a preserve of the tribunal,”Kubwa court standing not binding on this court,we have jurisdiction”.
The tribunal also discountenanced the petitioner’s call for been declared winner of the said election as the grounds of argument are of no value, the first respondent ( INEC) was also absolved of any involvement in corrupt practices in the conduct of the elections.
According to Justice Kunasa the Petitioner failed to prove any of the three counts, so this tribunal upheld INEC’s decision of Hon. Kolawole Taiwo as the validly elected Honourable member at the Federal House of Representatives for Ajeromi Ifelodun Federal constituency.
Speaking after the judgment has been served, the INEC’S Counsel, Mr. Tijani Ishola expressed confidence in the decision of the tribunal.
“The laws are very clear with regards to election petitions and it is the duty of any party who alleges to prove his case and when you listen to the judgement from the beginning to the end.
“The tribunal has done justice by resolving all issues raised by the petitioner and the respondents and the beauty of election petitioner in this case is that they look at the facts on ground and facts adduced by the party, so that at the end of the day, every party involved will believe strongly that Justice has been done.
“In these our case although it has taken us a long while but we are happy today that we are having the day and regardless of where the pendulum is swinging, judgment has been done.
The winner at tribunal Hon. Kolawole Taiwo who currently represents Ajeromi Federal constituency was filled with joy that the case was laid to rest, as better part of his time can now be devoted to through representation at the green chamber.
“I give thanks and adoration to God, to God be all the glory and I want to thank the judiciary, this is the first time of having to face the judiciary after an election and I just need to thank them for being the last hope of the common man, I’m so happy and I thank my people.
” I am also trying to extend my hands of fellowship to my opponent that they should let us stop all these acrimony about one election, I lost election in 2015 so many people came to me that I should go to tribunal and that I’m going to get my mandate back.
“I said no nobody have taken me to court before election is won and lost and four years later I won election in one court or the other, I started from a normal court as if it is a pre-election matter for a post election matter which is wrong.
“Today I have passed through the tribunal and I give all thanks and adoration to God but I have stretched my hands of fellowship to them, let’s think more about Ajegunle.
“This is the time for us to build our own constituency, it is an important time for reflection there are time for everything a time for election, a time to complain, a time to sow and a time to reap ,this suppose to be a time for us to reap and stop sowing I need to concentrate on what I am sent to the National Assembly for I come to the constituency every week, I tell some people that I spend N100,000 on transporting myself from Abuja to Lagos every week, which means in a most I will spend not less than 400,000,that is money for transportation not the one you are going to spend.”
He charged all parties to collaborate for the advancement of a glorious Ajegunle.
“Let’s move forward and think about how we are going to take Ajegunle forward. People that knows me knows I would keep working, I have been working and people would start seeing the effect of me being at the federal level, any moment from now, I am not even promising two months.
“I have met with several Ministers, I have met with several Parastatal heads, I made them see the reason why they should support us, that we are though down trodden, that we are poor, I represent poor people and any time I speak in the house, after introducing myself as Honourable member representing Ajeromi Ifelodun, I will put Ajegunle there and I told them one day the reason why I normally do that.
“That I want to always show them that I represent the poor and the downtrodden but we may be poor, we may be downtrodden but we are not stupid, we have what it takes to develop our nation and that is what we are taking to Abuja and I have assured my people continuously, I promised them that time that they should give me one day and I am going to give them four years, since then I have been working, I have not relented.
“I came in on Friday and did not even know that there would be a judgment today not until later, but since then I have been warning them that judgment will bring joy, it would bring sorrow, those that tasted any of the two would react differently but if you are the one that tasted the joy you must be magnanimous in victory.
“That is me that is what I am representing and that is what I want anybody that stood by me and believe in me to represent.
“We want to be magnanimous, we want to stretch our hands of fellowship to all of them, that Ajegunle is not all about thuggery, not all about gun, Ajegunle is about talents.
“We have what it takes to take ourselves to the pinnacle of this nation, but we must need to start fighting against violence, we need start fighting against illicit drugs, we need to start fighting against laziness, we are determined people, we are poor but we are not lazy, we have what it takes to be a good legislator.” Hon. Kolawole Taiwo said.