Dino Melaye Appeals Kogi State Tribunal Ruling

Senator Dino Melaye (PDP-Kogi West) has appealed the ruling of the Kogi State Election Tribunal that voided his election.

Naija News reports that the tribunal nullified Senator Melaye’s election on Friday morning, August 23.

This online news platform recalls that Mr Melaye was declared the winner of the Kogi West Senatorial election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in February.

Apparently displeased with the outcome of the election Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) approached the tribunal which in turn, ruled in his favour on Friday.

A three-man panel led by Justice A. O. Chijioke in a unanimous judgment accepted Adeyemi’s ground and ordered for reelection into the Kogi West senatorial district.

Naija News gathered that in the notice of appeal filed on Monday, Melaye asked the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment.

In the appeal dated September 5, 2019, Melaye raised 23 grounds of appeal, in which he faulted the majority decision of the tribunal.

Melaye is also seeking an order of the Court of Appeal allowing his appeal and order sustaining his objection to the petition or dismissing the petition and confirming his electoral victory.

The appeal, which was filed for Melaye by Rickey Tarfa (SAN) listed Senator Smart Adeyemi, All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as respondents.

“The provision of the law is that the name as used in Form CF001 is the only valid name that can be used to challenge the election of the Appellant.

“The principle of equity accepted and applied by the majority members of the Tribunal cannot override the provisions of the law in respect of the petition.

“The judgement of the Tribunal was perverse and against the weight of evidence before it,” he said.