Tribunal nullifies Offa council poll

The Local Government Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Ilorin on Wednesday nullified the re-run chairmanship election conducted in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara on Jan. 12, 2011.

Nullifying the election, Chairman of the tribunal, Chief Magistrate Nurudeen Adeyanju, said there was no adequate notification for the conduct of the re-run election as required by the law. He also said there were irregularities in the conduct of the election, including non-compliance with the Kwara State Electoral Law 2004 as amended.

The PDP candidate in the election, Prince AbdulWaheed Olanipekun, had challenged result of the poll.

He had claimed that the victory of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate, Prince Saheed Popoola, was as a result of a flagrant violation of the electoral law.

Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the petitioner, Prof. Rasheed Ijaodola, said the conduct of the election was marred with irregularities, including lack of adequate notification as required by law.

He however disagreed with the view of the tribunal on the issue of tax and using the numerous notebooks tendered in evidence as voter register in the conduct of the re-run election.

The courtroom, where the judgment was delivered, was filled to capacity as party loyalists arrived the tribunal premises as early as 8 a.m in defiance of the early rains.

ACN spokesman, Mr Rafiu Ajakaiye, in his reaction, said the party rejected the judgment and would appeal the verdict soonest.

“We are shocked at the verdict of the lower tribunal and we reject it. But, in the meantime, we appeal to our supporters to remain calm, peaceful and law-abiding.

“We have the right of appeal and it shall be exercised. There is no cause for alarm. We shall also come with our full reaction later, after studying the judgment,’’ he said.