“We look upon God for justice not from man”. These were the words of Hon. Abdulkabir Akinlade last Saturday while reacting to the outcome of the electoral tribunal in which he lost to the incumbent after almost four months of judicial fireworks.
Abdulkabir Akinlade was the governorship candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), and the first runner-up during the last Ogun State governorship election which held on March 9,2019. APM had earlier protested the victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun of All Progressive Congress (APC) in a petition labelled: EPT/OG/GOV/01/19, claiming that the election was marred with irregularities and that Hon. Akinlade was robbed of his mandate.
Akinlade along with his Party alleged that Abiodun had falsified information contained in his Form CF001 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and therefore, was not qualified to contest in the election; this among other allegations such as over-voting.
In his five-hour long judgment, Justice Yusuf Halilu who chairs the Tribunal, described the evidence provided by the petitioner’s witnesses as “lazy, shallow and deficient.” He said the petitioner had “irredeemably failed” to prove his case, and that Abidoun was duly elected.
Commenting on the outcome of the Tribunal, Akinlade through his media aide, Alao Azeez Adelani, called on his numerous supporters to remain calm and looked forward to justice from God and not from man.
In a follow up interview granted to www.newsclickngcom Correspondent, Mr. Adelani, Azeez said that Hon. Akinlade and APM had a good case and that their mandate was stolen. He added that upon due consultation with their lawyers and Party stakeholders, the next line of action will be made public.
Reacting to the ruling of the tribunal, the APM counsel Barrister Isiaka Abiola Olagunju said that a decision must be made in an election petition, and that the Tribunal decision was only the first stage of the three stages outlined to any gaggrieved to seek justoce. He added that the ruling is bound to be appealed when and if found due by the petitioner.
