Yahaya Bello Reacts As Appeal Court Nullifies Dino Melaye’s Election

Yahaya Bello, the governor of Kogi State, has commended the judgment of the Court Of Appeal which upheld the earlier judgment of the Kogi State National Assembly Election Tribunal nullifying Senator Dino Melaye’s election.

Naija News had reported earlier that the Kogi West lawmaker lost his appeal on the tribunal judgment that sacked him as a senator two months ago.

Reacting to the nullification, the governor said the nullification of the Kogi West Senatorial election, further vindicates his earlier position that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) manipulated the elections.

Governor Bello praised the judiciary for again distinguishing itself as an “unbiased, independent and impartial institution.”

The Kogi governor made the commendation in a statement entitled “Kogi West Appeal Court Verdict: Attestation that Judiciary is Impartial.”

Governor Bello said in spite of the intimidation, unnecessary accusations and rumour-mongering, the tribunal and the Court Of Appeal have lived up to their expectations by dispensing justice without fear or favour.

“For upholding the petition by Senator Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and ordering that a fresh election be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the constituency, the tribunal, led by Justice A.O. Chijioke and the Appeal Court have jointly proved to the world that the people’s mandate was stolen in the last Kogi West Senatorial Election” Governor Bello said.

“The courts did not decide in a vacuum but acted on the basis of the merits and demerits of the case before them.

“The Appeal Court and the entire Judiciary, therefore, deserves our commendation for further strengthening the democratic and electioneering processes in Nigeria,” the Kogi governor said.