The appeal instituted by Buruji Kashamu, challenging the ruling of Justice Ebiowei Tobi which nullified his election as a senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, could not resume on Tuesday at the Court of Appeal in Ibadan as scheduled after the court disbanded the three-man panel that was to hear the case.
Kashamu was declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission as the winner in the election ahead of the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, Dapo Abiodun, before the nullification of his victory by the tribunal which ordered a rerun in 110 polling units.
An APC candidate in the suit, Abiodun, said the decision was a surprise to him, while describing the allegation as completely outrageous.
However, the Chairman of the PDP in Ogun State, Dayo Adebayo, said the decision to disband the panel was a victory for Kashamu and the party, stressing that they would look forward to a fair hearing before a new panel.
He said, “This is victory for us and everybody. What has happened here was a display of the judiciary’s willingness to be fair to all parties concerned. We have discovered that some leaders have been going around manipulating the process. Abiodun lost in his polling unit, ward and council, how can he challenge a popular candidate like Kashamu who won fairly?
“We discovered that there were lots of manipulations being perpetrated by the APC leaders. They were sending lawyers to members of the panel. That was why we cried out and the authority concerned took the appropriate step to halt the panel from going ahead.”
The APC candidate, Abiodun, said although he believed in judicial process, the PDP and Kashamu’s allegation would slow down the judicial process, vowing also to win the senatorial seat of the Ogun East Senatorial District.
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