The motion on notice seeking to Re-List the petition of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Aloysius Okino for Ajaokuta Federal Constituency in Kogi, against the All Progressives Congress, (APC), candidate, and member-elect, Hon Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem has been dismissed by the National Election Petition tribunal sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State.
Aloysius Okino’s petition had earlier been dismissed by the court for lack of merit.
The argument of the PDP and its candidate in this latest move, is on the ground that the lawyer who appeared for them during Pre-Hearing session and the first day of the hearing of the petition, on the 15th May, 2023 and 31st May, 2023 respectively, had no such instruction and that the petitioners Counsel and the petitioners were not served with the necessary hearing notice.
Recall that the National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, on 1st June, 2023 had dismissed the petition brought before it for ‘lack of merit’ by the Ajaokuta PDP House of Reps candidate, Aloysius Okino/PDP challenging the victory of the APC House of Reps Member-Elect, Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem, alleging irregularities in the conduct of the said election.
In a statement by the Ajaokuta APC Media Team 4 ODODO, shortly after the ruling of the tribunal said
“Surprisingly, on the 7th of June, 2023, the petitioner filled a motion on notice seeking to Re-List their petition that has earlier been dismissed by the court. Their argument is on the ground that the lawyer who appeared for them during Pre-Hearing session and the first day of the hearing of the petition, that is 15th May, 2023 and 31st May, 2023 respectively, had no such instruction and that the petitioners Counsel and the petitioners were not served with the necessary hearing notice.
“Upon being served, Counsel to SEA (Respondent) joined issues with the petitioners by filling their respective counter affidavit and the application was slated for hearing on Saturday, 10th of June, 2023.
“When the Tribunal called the application for hearing on the 10th of June, 2023, Counsel to PDP/Aloysius Okino (the petitioner), haven seen the hard facts contained in the counter affidavit of Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem (the respondent) and the danger it portrayed for them, quickly made a U-Turn to withdraw their application.
“On the basis of the withdrawal of the application that was smuggled back to the Tribunal by PDP/Aloyius Okino and his lawyers, the Three-Man Tribunal committee members, in a unanimous judgement dismissed the application again for lack of merit.
“This is desperation taken too far and an act of gross violation of the Rule of Law and an abuse of Adjudication process in the judicial system and a criminal offence for trying to reinvent and attempted to smuggle back into the court, a case that has already been decided and ruled out.
“The situation here is rather unfortunate for a candidate that has contested this same House of Reps election for a consecutive three times in a row and has been rejected by his people. Why is he so desperate to become a House of Reps Member by force when he is not in tune with the people that gives the mandate?
The noted that this is a desperation taken too far for trying to beat the judicial rules, trying to undermine the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that backs the National Judicial Council and trying to play on the intelligence of a highly recognized and constituted National Elections Petition Tribunal by the National Judicial Council, (NJC).
“However, by the special grace of God Almighty, the good people of Ajaokuta Federal Constituency has bestowed their mandate on their illustrious son, Sanni Egidi Abdulraheem to represent them at the National Assembly. It is God that designed it and there is nothing any negative forces can do about it.
“Representative SEA will be inaugurated into the 10th National Assembly on Tuesday,13th June, 2023 by God’s grace. We call on all sons and daughters of Ajaokuta Federal Constituency to join hands with this God sent representative of ours to bring about the best that has never been witnessed before.
“Representative Sanni Egidi Abdulraheemis a renowned Chattered Accountant who retired at the peak of his Civil Service career as a Permanent Secretary, he is an International Business Mogul, he is an acknowledged philanthropist, a lawyer in the making, a developer, a respected, tested and trusted politician who is intellectually mobile, an accurate thinker with super experience and determined to bring about the long time yearning dividends of democracy to his people.
Representative Sea Will Do It Different From Business As Usual.