APC, Dapo Abiodun challenges Kashamu's victory at tribunal

Buruji Kashamu

Buruji Kashamu, wanted in the US on drug charges

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

Buruji Kashamu
Buruji Kashamu

The legal battle to ascertain the real winner of the senatorial seat of the Ogun East Senatorial District in Ogun state, Southwest, Nigeria has began as the All Progressives Congress, APC senatorial candidate, Dapo Abiodun has approached the State National Assembly Election tribunal to file a petition, challenging the victory of Prince Buruji Kashamu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who was declared winner at the poll.

The controversial Ijebu Igbo politician, who is fighting his extradition to the United States, was declared winner of the election by the Returning Officer of the Senatorial District during the March 28,2015 National Assembly election, Prof. Babatunde Ikotun.

He was said to have polled a total votes of 99,540 votes to defeat eight other candidates.

At a press briefing at APC party secretariat in Abeokuta on 30 March, it vowed to approach the court to seek redress, having sighted irregularities that marred the election in some parts of the district.

In the petition, copy of which our correspondent obtained in Abeokuta, Abiodun argued that the PDP candidate, Buruji Kashamu was not qualified to contest the election and that he did not score the highest number of lawful votes as required by the law.

The petitioner, who said he would rely on form EC8E (1) to prove his case, further alleged that Kashamu, his party, PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, who are joined as the 2nd, 3rd and 4th respondents respectively, failed to comply with the electoral act.

Dapo Abiodun
Dapo Abiodun

According to the petitioner,”the 1st respondent, Prince Buruj Kashamu was not duly elected by majority of the lawful votes cast at the election and therefore did not meet the requirements of the law to be returned as the winner of the election.

Related News

“The election of the 1st respondent, Prince Buruji Kashamu is invalid by reason of substantial non compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2015 (as amended),the Manual for election and the law in the conduct of the election.

“The election of the 1st respondent, Prince Buruji Kashamu is invalid by reason of corrupt practices and electoral malpractices perpetrated by the 1st respondent in person and members and agents of the 1st and 2nd respondents in the places mentioned in this petition.

“The 1st respondent,Prunce Buruj Kashamu was not qualified to contest the election,” Abiodun posited.

The APC candidate, however urged the tribunal to nullify all the results from the polling units or wards,where the requisite forms were not completed, dated, signed or stamped by the concerned officials.

The Iperu Remo born businessman turned politician prayed the court to declare the PDP candidate, Prince Buruji Kashamu, as not qualified to contest the Ogun East Senatorial District election and was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast during the election.

He further submitted that a declaration that the announcement of Prince Buruji Kashamu be annulled and set aside,added that same being null and void.

APC candidate, Dapo Abiodun finished second during the election while the incumbent Senator representing the area, Senator Adegbenga Sefiu Kaka of the Social Democratic Party was third.

Load more