Election Tribunal Verdict: ‘No Cause For Alarm’ – Dino Melaye
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Embattled Senator Dino Melaye says there is no cause to worry over the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal ruling that nullified his election as the Senator representing Kogi West in the Ninth Nigerian Senate.
Declaring his readiness to appeal the judgment on Friday, the lawmaker said that his opponent would have also challenged the ruling if he was in his shoes.
In a tweet shortly after the Tribunal’s annulment of his election, the controversial Senator said; “On Tribunal judgment: No cause 4 alarm at all. Even if it went my way, they will still go to the Appeal Court. Our mandate cannot be taken.
“We will get judgment at the Appeal Court. There will be fresh election in Kogi West because I will be Governor. For my Senate mandate, no shaking!”
— Senator Dino Melaye. (SDM) (@dino_melaye) August 23, 2019
The lawmaker also tweeted a picture with a caption “He who laugh last, laugh best…KOGI Governor loading; He who laugh last, laugh best…KOGI Governor loading pic.twitter.com/3hvAfA9yHc
— Senator Dino Melaye. (SDM) (@dino_melaye) August 23, 2019
Senator Melaye was declared the winner of the Kogi West Senatorial election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on February 23, but the Election Petition Tribunal, while nullifying the results on Friday, August 23, ordered for fresh election in the Kogi West Senatorial district.
In a unanimous judgment, the three-member panel, led by Justice A. O. Chijioke, ruled in favour of Smart Adeyemi’s petitions and ordered INEC to re-conduct election in the area.
