18th September, 2015
Eromosele Ebhomele
The representative of Lagos Mainland Constituency 2 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Moshood Olarenwaju Oshun, on Friday declared that his victory at the Lagos State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal is a confirmation that he truly earned the confidence and trust of the people in the constituency.
Oshun, who spoke through his media office after the tribunal sitting in Ikeja, Lagos State, upheld his victory at the 2015 election, further said the people of his constituency should be congratulated for their steadfastness, support and cooperation with the All Progressives Congress, APC, through which he emerged candidate and won the election.
Ibrahim Olumide Ajiga of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, had petitioned the tribunal, headed by Justice Sylvester Orji, challenging the declaration of Moshood Olarenwaju by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as winners of the April 11 election.
Olumide contended that Moshood was not legible to contest the House of Assembly election having not being properly nominated by his party, APC.
The petitioner also contended that the primaries which produced Moshood as candidate of APC for the election was flawed as it fell shut of the 21 days requirement by the electoral act.
This argument was dismissed by the tribunal which held Oshun’s election as valid.
Reacting to the ruling, Oshun said the PDP in the constituency and the state had long been desperate but that this desperation has never led the opposition party anywhere.
“An election should never be a do-or-die affair. It should be a fair contest where the looser hugs and congratulates the winner where it is obvious that the winner actually won freely and squarely.
“In this case, my people wanted me, they showed it to everyone and voted for me during the election. But the defeated PDP decided to focus on technicalities.
“I am happy the ruling was fair. It is not a case of winner takes it all. Rather, it just shows that the time has come to join forces for the development and progress of my constituency.
“Now that the election has been shown to be won and lost, I want to urge my people not to relent in the support they have always given us.
“On my part, I will continue to touch lives, work for the security of lives and properties of the people both in my constituency and the state, and do everything within my power to bring pride to Lagos Mainland Constituency 2,” Oshun said.