JUST IN: Tribunal Annuls Election of Senator Kashamu - Naij.com

 

The National and state Assembly Elections Petition

Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital has

cancelled the election of a Buruji Kasahamu, Naij.com

can authoritatively report.

Kashamu, who’s still wanted in the United States on

allegations of drug trafficking, claimed victory in the

election conducted in Ogun East Senatorial District and

has been representing the district, which is composed of

mainly Ijebu and Remo ethnic nationalities, since the 8th

Senate convened in June.

In his ruling, Justice Ebiowei Tobi led tribunal ordered re-

run in 110 polling units be conducted within 90 days,

following the APC candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun’s

petition against Kashamu’s victory.

While delivering the judgment this afternoon, Justice Tobi

Ebimowei disclosed that there are some

irregularities,some anomalies, added that, some of them

have been proved while some are not proved.

Picture from the National and State Assembly Elections

Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun state today.

He further stated that in some areas where the petitioner

have been laid claims to the tribunal said the petitioner

counsel has not been able to proof to be fundamental and

substantial.

Ebimowei disclosed that only Ijebu Ode local government

area is the only local government out of the nine in Ogun

East that election results were not cancelled because the

irregualrities are not much.

“We have to cancel in other local government because they

are much more anomalies and irregularities in local

government like Ijebu North,Ijebu East,Sagamu,Ikenne and

Odogbolu,” the judge posited.

He however stated that having perused all the evidences

before the tribunal,37,008 votes are hereby declared

unlawful on grounds of proved irregularities.

Ebimowei also said the total valid and lawful votes for the

first respondent after the deduction and adjustment is

now 75,856 compared to 99,540 declared by INEC.

On the part of the petitioner, total valid votes is 70,677

compared to 84,001 recorded by INEC, added that the

margin win votes is just 5,179.

Picture from the National and State Assembly Elections

Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun state today.

“The first respondent did not score enough votes to be able

to declared him winner,comparing the margin win vote to

total votes of 37,008 that are invalid.

“For avoidance of doubt,we cannot cancelled the whole

Senatorial election because of that and the margin of win is

just 5,179 votes,it is not enough to declare him winner.

"The election is nullify in line with Section 140 (2) and 140

(3), but in this regard,we are looking at 140 (2). We hereby

order fresh election in the affected polling unit, we do nit feel

comfortable to nullify election in Ogun East Senatorial

District.

“The election of the first respondent is hereby set aside as

Senator representing Ogun East District and ordered that 3rd

respondent conduct a fresh election into the polling units

which elections have been cancelled and in doing that, must

take cognisance of the lawful votes,” he declared.

The tribunal affirmed that the valid votes of 146,533 be

aside while results from the 110 polling units that was

called fresh election will be added to the already valid

votes.

According to reports from some quarters, there was a

wild jubilation by the people of the district after the news

broke that Kashamu has lost at the tribunal. The people

reportedly welcomed the ruling on Kashamu on the basis

that he had initially used his wealth to purchase victory,

thereby suppressing the voice of the majority of the

constituents.

“Tomiwa Adefala, an APC sympathiser in the district, said he

is particularly happy that Kashamu was not about to

influence the decision of the tribunal.

“I am happy that Kashamu lost the case at the tribunal, but I

am more happy that he didn’t use his money to influence the

judges,” he said. “We welcome this ruling.”

This development comes days after the National

Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) honored the

Buruji Kashamu with a “Golden Man Of The Year.”

According to NANS, the award bestowed on Kashamu

was for his “untiring, exemplary and compassionate

leadership style which cannot be taken away from him.”