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Tag: Akeredolu

  • INEC can’t conduct credible polls, says Akeredolu

    The candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the last governorship election in Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as presently constituted, cannot conduct credible polls.

    He was reacting to the discredited governorship election in Anambra State.

    In a statement yesterday, Akeredolu said: “Anyone who still habours the illusion that INEC, as presently constituted, possesses the capacity to conduct any credible, free and fair election should have a rethink.

    “A situation where the electoral umpire, even by its own admission, failed to discharge its statutory functions creditably and is allowed to pontificate on the best way to solve a problem it created, wittingly, is deplorable.

    “The brazen contempt with which the generality of Nigerians are held by INEC officials, goaded by certain elements, should compel reactions from the people. “

    Akeredolu said the electoral body erred by conducting an election with a flawed voter register.

    He said: “We have contended strenuously that a compromised voter register cannot form the basis of a credible election. Having a sizeable chunk of the electorate consciously disenfranchised in a process that will throw up a new leadership, in spite of the ubiquitous presence of the national leadership of INEC, signals ominous occurrences next year, which may assume catastrophic proportions in 2015.”

    Akeredolu urged political parties to assume greater responsibility to end impunity.

    He said: “INEC springs up surprises each time there is an election. Fictitious names are injected heavily into the voter register to give the beneficiary of a fraud a comfortable edge over others.

    “Once this criminality is discovered, you are advised to go to court. There could be no election to be substantially affected in law when the register used for such election had been compromised.

    “Political parties have greater responsibilities to end impunity. The people must not allow the recent INEC shenanigan in Anambra to stand.”

  • A tragedy of unimaginable proportion —Akeredolu

    A tragedy of unimaginable proportion —Akeredolu

    Former Nigerian Bar President and the governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the last governorship election in Ondo State, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu described the tragedy as one of monumental proportions, adding that “we can hardly afford these losses at this moment.

    “We are all in a state of shocked at present as we bear the pains of these unimaginable and tragic losses. How do we begin to console ourselves on this most unfortunate event? What words can sufficiently serve as balm on our collective psyche bruised violently by this occurrence? How are we expected to cope with this at this time?

    “We resign ourselves to fate imbued with the belief that there is no effective armour against destiny. As we mourn the departed, we must continue to engage ourselves on the precarious state of existence in the country. The challenges we face as a people are enormous. They are, however, not insurmountable if we are dedicated to the ideals of nation-building.

    May the souls of the departed find eternal rest.”

  • Supreme Court verdict: Akeredolu insists Ondo guber poll was flawed

    Supreme Court verdict: Akeredolu insists Ondo guber poll was flawed

    The defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), yesterday congratulated Governor Olusegun Mimiko on the Supreme Court judgment which upheld his victory in the election held on October 20 last year.

    In a statement issued by him, he said he was still convinced that the election that brought in Mimiko for second term was marred with irregularities.

    The statement reads: “The Supreme Court yesterday delivered its judgment dismissing my appeal against the decision of the Court of Appeal which upheld the earlier judgment of the Election Petition Tribunal.

    “The judgment of the Supreme Court has helped a great deal in reaffirming my belief in what Clinton Rossiter said thus: ‘The people with their overt or silent resistance, not the court…will set the only practical limit to arrogance of abuse.’

    “Impelled by an undying belief in the democratic process, we were determined to prosecute this matter to its logical conclusion. We were, and are still, convinced without doubt that a heavily tainted process cannot produce a credible choice, the judgment of the Supreme Court notwithstanding. We stand by the prophetic words of Onnoghen JSC thus: ‘There are certain non-compliances that go to the root of an election in that they are absolute in the sense that once established, the purported election is invalid and as such there would be no result to be substantially affected by the non-compliance. For instance, where an election is conducted with an invalid voters’ register, can there be a result of an election to be substantially affected by the non-compliance? Obviously none as the purported election is null and void ab initio.

    “We believe that our intervention has enriched our jurisprudence in certain respects. We leave lawyers, judges, eminent scholars and members of the reading public to read the judgment of the Supreme Court with a view to sustaining the discourse.

    “We never for once harbour any illusion on the arduous and tortuous itinerary to our democratic destination. We firmly believe in the justness of our cause and we tender no apologies to anyone who feels that we must be complacent and compliant, faced with the harsh realities on the socio-political landscape.

    “Once again, I thank all our supporters in Ondo State, especially those who have had to bear the brunt of the oppressive and callous charges of a vindictive and desperate government.

    “I thank members of the press for the usual promptitude with which any news concerning us is treated. We remain partners in the struggle for the emancipation of the downtrodden.

    “As Walter Mondale said, in every defeat can be found the seeds of victory; it is the nature of politics and is proven by history. I ran for office because I’m concerned about Ondo State. This judgment puts paid, albeit for now, to my hopes to lead the state in a different direction.

    I and my wife, (Betty) congratulate the Governor, Dr Rahaman Mimiko and earnestly pray for him and for our state.”

  • Akeredolu, Oke call for fresh election

    Akeredolu, Oke call for fresh election

    • Supreme Court’s verdict tomorrow in Ondo

    The Supreme Court will tomorrow deliver judgement in the appeals filed on last year’s governorship election in Ondo State.

    Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate; Mr. Olusola Oke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their parties are contesting the outcome of the election.

    Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who was declared winner, and his party, the Labour Party (LP) as well as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) filed cross-appeals, urging the court to, among others, uphold the election.

    The apex court, yesterday chose Thursday for judgment after entertaining arguments from parties.

    Akeredolu’s lawyer, Wole Aina, contended that the election was invalid because it was plagued with irregularities and gross violation of the due process.

    He also argued that the conduct of the election was not in compliance with the Electoral Act.

    The lawyer prayed the court to order a fresh election.

    Aina argued that the court was right in its decision to hear the case during its vacation because it is a constitutional provision that the case must be heard within 60 days.

    He argued that the constitution takes precedence over the rule of any court and that the court has the power to hear the case during vacation to beat the 60 days’ deadline.

    Also, the counsel to Oke, Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), argued that the election was invalid because the INEC allegedly injected over 100,000 voters into the process without displaying the names before the election, as required by the electoral law.

    The lawyer submitted that the INEC failed to publish and display the voters’ register, as required by the electoral law, before a valid election could be conducted.

    He also argued that the INEC could not be said to have conducted a valid election because it failed to display the voters’ register, as required by law.

    Fagbemi averred that the condition precedent for election was not observed because the parties, including INEC agreed that over 100,000 names were inserted into the voters’ register without following due process.

    He urged the court to order a fresh election in Ondo state.

    Counsel to Mimiko and the LP, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Yusuf Ali (SAN) urged the court to dismiss the appeal because the case was baseless and could no longer be heard on jurisdiction.

    Olanipekun argued that the case has become a mere academic exercise with the absence of the Action Congress ofNigeria(ACN), the platform on which Akeredolu stood for the election.

  • Akeredolu welcomes defectors to APC

    Akeredolu welcomes defectors to APC

    The candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in last year’s governorship election in Ondo State, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has welcomed former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains into the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said the APC holds a realistic promise of redemption for the masses.

    In a statement, the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President said: “The fact that the leaders are not known to be frivolous and their continued relevance as grassroots politicians is not in doubt shows the quality of the personalities who embrace the APC’s philosophy of change. APC is the party with the largest assemblage of progressive politicians in the country.

    “I congratulate former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) D.I. Kekemeke, Mr. Tunde Alake, Prof. Olu Aboluwoye, Mr. Ojajuni Philip, Mrs.Yejide Ogundipe, Mr. Olatunde Femi and Mr.Ifeanyi Odili, among others, for their courage and exemplary conduct. It takes a man of conviction to take such a momentous decision in this clime.

    “It is our hope that they will join other well-meaning members of the APC to wrest our dear state from the shackles of a visionless and deceitful government. The division among progressive forces in the country is directly responsible for the perpetuation of misery engendered by abject want in the lives of our people.

    “We call on other progressives, who still harbour apprehension as regards the mission and vision of the APC, to join those who are truly desirous of bringing about quality change in the polity. The Nigerian project must be rescued from clueless elements, who lack basic understanding with respect to governance.”

  • Akeredolu, wife console Fashola

    The governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in last year’s general election in Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and his wife, Betty, have consoled Governor Babatunde Fashola on the death of his father, Pa Ibrahim Ademola Fashola.

    They said in a statement: “We have received the sad news of the transition of Papa Ademola Fashola to eternal life. We join other well-meaning Nigerians in extending our heartfelt condolences to our brother and friend the Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Raji Fashola, his amiable wife, Bimbo and children in particular, and the entire members of the Fashola clan in Lagos and elsewhere.

    “Granted that death is a necessary end, some passages are phenomenal in that they leave indelible footprints on the sands of time. Any father, who was able to invest in the education of his children to the point of giving the country well-trained children, must be adjudged a great asset indeed.

    “The father of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and other professionals was a successful man. The man who fathered Babatunde Fashola was an exceptional man. Being the father of the man, who has raised the bar of quintessential performance in governance is worthy of acknowledgement and celebration.

    “Governor Fashola is a veritable mirror showcasing the quality of his family values.

    “We pray that Almighty Allah will grant Papa the eternal rest that he deserves and the necessary assistance on his journey to Aljana Firdaus.”

  • APC, Akeredolu get support

    APC, Akeredolu get support

    A pressure group in Ondo State yesterday reiterated its support for the governorship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in last year’s general election, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), to secure justice at the Supreme Court.

    It also pledged its determination to ensure that the state comes into the mainstream of the progressives government in the Southwest.

    The Coordinator of the group in Akure South Local Government, Mr. Idowu Otetubi, in a statement issued after inauguration in the 11 wards of Akure South Local Government, expressed the need for members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be steadfast and ready to wrest power from the Labour Party (LP) administration.

    The group rejoiced with the indigenes on the birth of APC and urged the coalition to work hard on membership drive by capitalising on the failures of the present administration.

    It said: “We are imploring our supporters to join the APC whenever the registration of members begins.

    “We salute the doggedness of Akeredolu and the lawmaker representing Akure North/South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ifedayo Abegunde (aka Abena), in fighting for the emancipation of the indigenes from penury and oppression.”

    The group lamented that the state was passing through tribulation because of the challenges in the areas of infrastructures, healthcare delivery, education, economy and others, stressing that APC is the only solution.

  • Supporters urged to pray for Akeredolu’s victory at Supreme Court

    Supporters urged to pray for Akeredolu’s victory at Supreme Court

    Supporters of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State have been urged to remain steadfast in the struggle to ensure a positive change in governance.

    They were also enjoined to unite and pray for justice at the Supreme Court following the petition filed by the party and its governorship candidate in last year’s governorship election, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu.

    The Appeal Court sitting in Akure upheld the verdict of the lower tribunal in favour of Dr. Olusegun Mimiko as winner of the October 20, 2012 governorship poll.

    Speaking with leaders and supporters of ACN in the 15 wards of Akoko South West Local Government at Akungba-Akoko, a chieftain of the party, Otunba Gboyega Adefarati, said ACN has the administrative virtues to bring about positive change to the state.

    He lamented the harrowing experience of indigenes, stressing that with determination, perseverance and prayer, Ondo State would soon join other Southwest states to enjoy good governance.

    The meeting, which coincided with the 2013 Akungba Day, was attended by elders and leaders of the party, local government executives, ward chairmen and women and youth leaders.

    The Chairman of the Leader’s Forum in Akoko Southwest Local Government, Mr. Foluso Babadele, hailed the party leaders for their steadfastness, commitment and support for Akeredolu.

    He lauded its National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande and National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for their support, particularly during the last governorship poll.

    Babadele said the party’s structure, which helped it to win election in the local government in the October 20, 2012 poll was still intact.

    The host, who is the son of former Governor Adebayo Adefarati and ACN House of Representatives candidate for Akoko South West/East in the 2011 National Assembly election, appreciated the party leaders in the area, who encouraged him to launch his campaign for the 2015 House of Representatives election.

    He noted that the Court of Appeal judgment had raised fundamental issues and he hoped that the Supreme Court would do justice. He added that after darkness, light would emerge.

    According to him, election is a process and not an event and a compromised voter register cannot produce a legitimate election result.

    He said: “The issue of personal ambition is not now. When we get to the river, we shall cross it. What is paramount to me now is how to join other ACN leaders to build a formidable party that will win future elections.”

    The ACN chieftain urged party supporters to rally round Akeredolu in his struggle to get justice at the Supreme Court.

     

  • Why we must fight on, by Akeredolu’s running mate

    Action Congress of Nigeria’s (ACN’s) candidate in last year’s governorship poll in Ondo State Rotimi Akeredolu’s running mate, Dr. Paul Akintelure, spoke yesterday about the party’s loss at the Court of Appeal. He said if it was not challenged, rigging would thrive.

    The Appeal Court’s judgment upheld the victory of Governor Olusegun Mimiko.

    The ACN chieftain, who spoke on the phone with The Nation, said: “It is no longer news that the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, just like the Election Petition Tribunal, has again awarded the governorship election to Mimiko of the Labour Party (LP). In a unanimous decision, the court held that the appeal ‘is lacking in merit.’

    “First, the learned justices ironically agreed with all the grounds upon which Akeredolu came before the court. They agreed that the issue of the voter register was not a pre-election matter and so the tribunal was wrong in declining jurisdiction.

    “Two, based on the admission of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that over 100,000 voters were injected into the voter register and without the required publication of the voter register, the court held that INEC lacked the capacity to create its own rules in this case as there was a definitive position provided by the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

    “The court equally agreed that the election was conducted, based on the illegal, fraudulent and invalid voter register. To me, those were the crux of our case at the Appeal Court. For a court of law, which had hitherto agreed with the position that the election, albeit the aforementioned, did not satisfy the provisions of the Electoral Act, to turn around and talk about substantially, is talking law from the two sides of the mouth.

    “I wonder what can be more substantial when an issue like illegal injection was made to the electoral register, which had been held by the appellate court to be the foundation of any election. It is not only absurd, but also totally unsupportable either in law or common sense.

    “My take on the word, substantial, is that it is a clever way of dodging the issue and looking for a window of escape from the real issue. Equally, I would think that the issue had been taken away from the hand of the court to politics.”

    Akintelure urged ACN members to remain steadfast, adding that truth shall prevail.

    ACN chieftain Mr. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, yesterday said the verdicts of the lower Tribunal and Appeal Court were at variance.

    In a statement in Akure, the state capital, he quoted the Justice Andova Kaka’n-led tribunal as saying that the matter is a pre- election issue; therefore it has no jurisdiction.

    Yusuf-Ogunleye, the state Chairman of the Sunshine Coalition (SC), said the Appeal Court disagreed, assumed jurisdiction and confirmed that there were injections, but that the petitioners had not proved their cases beyond reasonable doubt how it affected the outcome of the election.

    “The funny thing is that the judgment was read by two judges. One read the submission of the parties and the other dismissed the petition. The presiding judge said the judgment has a typographical error.

    “What this means is that there is contradiction in the two judgments. The Appeal Court’s judgment was done in a hurry and did not touch any issue raised for determination in the appeal, but just wrapped up into conclusion.

    “Since you cannot put something on nothing, the Supreme Court will determine whether a compromised voter register can produce a credible election,” he said.

  • Akeredolu heads for Supreme Court as Mimiko’s election is upheld

    •Party reacts to Appeal Court’s judgment
    •Oke: verdict defeat of people’s expectations

    The governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State in last year’s general elections, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, yesterday reacted to the judgment of the Appeal Court on his petition challenging the legality of the conduct of the election based on a heavily-compromised voter register.

    He said: “As it happened in the lower tribunal, I receive the judgment with equanimity and hasten to confirm my decision to proceed to the Supreme Court for final adjudication in this matter.

    “I take this step imbued with an unshaken belief in the justness of our cause. I appeal to our supporters, who may be taken aback by the current situation, to be more patient. I reach out to party faithful to keep hope alive and remain steadfast until victory is achieved. I shall not abandon our people in this hour of need.

    “The Court of Appeal, in its wisdom, agreed that there were injections of names into the voter register; disagreed with the lower tribunal that it was a pre-election matter, but did not accept that this curious act of subterfuge calls to question the credibility and validity of the election and that same affected our chances negatively.

    “We shall be proceeding to the apex court for a final determination of the legal effect of the use of this compromised voter register for the election of October 20, 2012.

    “We are convinced, beyond any doubt, that a heavily- compromised register cannot form the basis of an election adjudged valid, let alone being credible and fair.

    “The beneficiary of this electoral heist, who was allotted 41 per cent of the total votes cast, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the ostensibly partisan electoral umpire and those who perpetrated the fraud, know this as the truth.

    “As we expect the Supreme Court to pronounce on the propriety of this brazen act of subversion of the people’s wish, we know that the people themselves, conscious of their deprived state, are the ultimate decider of the political fate of those who offer to serve them.”

    The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State yesterday faulted the Appeal Court for upholding the victory of Governor Olusegun Mimiko in the last October 20 governorship election.

    In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, the party said the judgment of the appellate court is a setback for the judiciary, which is under re-branding by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

    The party noted that the Appeal Court, in upholding the victory of Governor Mimiko for a second term, has approved that injection of illegal names are allowed in future elections.

    The statement reads: “The judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure upholding the ruling of the lower tribunal on the appeal brought before it by ACN/Rotimi Akeredolu has come to the party as a shock and is a worrisome development.

    “This is more so considering the fact that a bad precedent is being set in our legal jurisprudence to accommodate illegal injection of names into the voter register in subsequent elections. It is rather unfortunate that the judiciary, through the pronouncement of the Court of Appeal, has again delayed justice and deprived the Ondo State people of the much-desired freedom from the rudderless government of the Labour Party (LP).

    “One cannot help but laugh at the rationalisation given by the appellate court that the appellants did not prove how the manipulated voter register substantially affected the outcome of the election. If that is the case, then what happens to this popular saying in the legal parlance that you cannot build something on nothing.

    “Also amusing is the issue of compromised voter register, which was termed to be a pre- election matter by the lower tribunal but has now assumed a new status that needs to be proved to have substantially affected the result of the election.

    “The party viewed the judgment as a miscarriage of justice that must be put to legal scrutiny at the apex court. Consequently, this judgment is going to be challenged at the Supreme Court by the party and its candidate. We appeal to our members, sympathisers and the good people of Ondo State to remain calm and steadfast in their support for this noble cause as there is a light at the end of this seemingly unending dark tunnel.”

    The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Olusola Oke yesterday said the Appeal Court’s judgment constituted a brazen defeat of the expectations of the Ondo State people, who desired light after four years of darkness.

    He said: “It also demonstrates a serious shatter to the sensibilities of the people, who had expected a lease from the shackles of poverty, want, disease, unemployment and frustration.

    “This judgment remains unacceptable to us and the people of Ondo State. We have accordingly directed our legal team to study the judgment for further decision in the matter.

    “It is relieving that the court agreed with us that the violation of the voter register is not a pre- election matter and that the registration was not compiled in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    “We intend to be guided by this finding in our further actions. We thank the people of this state for their endurance, fortitude, faith and perseverance throughout the trial.

    “We encourage them to keep the peace and walk tall through the rest of the days ahead.

    “While thanking the Ondo State people for their support and encouragement, we wish to remind all that the fight to enthrone democracy, justice and freedom is not an easy walk.

    “For us, our spirits remain strong and undaunted. Our hope is set for the light at the end of the tunnel.”