Tribunal affirms APC’s Okunlola’s victory
The National/State Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Ikeja, Lagos yesterday upheld the election of Lanre Okunlola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the member representing Surulere Federal Constituency II in the House of Representatives, following the February 25 general election.
The tribunal, in a unanimous decision, dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP)’s Olatunji Shoyinka challenging Okunlola’s victory.
It agreed with Okunlola’s counsel, Mr. Wahab Shittu (SAN), that Shoyinka’s petition failed and ought to be dismissed.
The tribunal granted the senior lawyer’s prayer and awarded a punitive cost of N200,000 against Shoyinka, and in favour of Okunlola and the APC.
Shoyinka and the PDP are 1st and 2nd petitioners in the petition.
Okunlola, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents.
The petitioners, through their counsel, C. A. Abengowe, had by a March 16 petition challenged Okunlola’s victory on two grounds.
Firstly, they alleged that the election was invalid because of corrupt, illegal and wrongful practice perpetuated by INEC in connivance with Okunlola and the APC through falsification, manipulation and forgery of results done by the 3rd Respondent (INEC).
Secondly, they argued that the election was invalid because of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Source: The Nation
Insecurity: Miyetti Allah Set To Establish Vigilante Nationwide
The Fulani socio-cultural association, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore has announced the establishment of its nationwide security outfit to assist security agencies in curbing criminalities such as cattle rustling, kidnapping and rural banditry confronting the country.
The association also asked the inspector general police (IGP) to take proactive measures to protect Fulani pastoralists across the country from ethnic militias and state-sponsored vigilantes.
This was contained in a communique signed by the national president, Alhaji Abdullahi Badejo, national secretary, Engr. Saleh Alhassan and national deputy president, Amb. Mansur Abdulkarim at the end of its annual general meeting in Abuja yesterday.
The communique further condemned the continuous profiling of the Fulani race by some media organisations, particularly social media and urged the press to investigate the veracity of their stories before going to press or risk legal action.
According to the group, delegates viewed the continuous policies of segregation by some state governors seeking to criminalise the economic livelihoods of pastoralists through the enactment of the Anti-open Grazing Law, as the most wicked act any government can do to the economic interest of Fulani pastoralists.
The communique unanimously condemned and totally rejected the repressive and oppressive laws and called on the National Assembly to come to the rescue of the pastoralists on the insecurity ravaging their communities.
Source: Leadership
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