Appeal Court okays Taiwo’s election as Ajeromi/Ifelodun Rep

The Appeal Court siting in Lagos Thursday upheld the election of a member of the House of Representatives representing Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency in Lagos, Kolawole Taiwo, of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The presiding justice of the Lagos Division, Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, ruled in favour of Taiwo’s election faulting the case of his opponent from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Rita Orji, for lack of merit.

The court upheld the cancellation of the February 23, 2019, election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the declaration of Taiwo as the winner of the re-run that took place on April 27, affirming all the judgements of the tribunal while dismissing all grounds canvassed by the appellant, Rita Orji.

Counsel to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) Mr. Tijani Ishola cited the lessons from the decision of the court stating that it was an important litigation.

“It is a lesson to all of us that there should be an end to litigations, our client, INEC has been very careful in doing what is just as an unbiased umpire, but a lot of politicians will now see things differently,” he said.

Also, counsel to the second and third respondents, Kolawole Taiwo and the APC, Mr. Femi Davosta Oshinowo, gave a recap of the proceeding, saying, “I think justice has been done and I would like to say that our electoral law has been further enriched. The judges also admitted all our grounds of Appeal because it was obvious that all the evidences tendered to the tribunal were hashed by their counsel for all the witnesses.”

Speaking, Taiwo said his olive branch was still stretched out to his opponent despite the long- dragged litigations.

“I am fulfilled. I give thanks and adoration to God because all victory belongs to God and when you are considered worthy enough by God to have victory you should be humbled. I also thank my people for their support and prayer from day one till this very end. They have been very committed and steadfast to this course believing that nobody can steal our mandate,” he said.

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