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Tag: Ladoja

  • Between Ajimobi and Ladoja

    SIR: The governorship candidate of Accord Party in the last general elections in Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, while reacting to the results of gubernatorial election as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission, said that people in the state were mourning over the election results that returned Senator Abiola Ajimobi as the duly elected governor. Against this background, the election results were challenged by Ladoja at the tribunal with a view to seeking a redress that would definitely put an end to the “mourning” of the people. However, the tribunal on Tuesday, October 27, delivered its judgement obviously not to grant Ladoja’s prayers but in affirming Ajimobi’s re-election. Not satisfied with the tribunal ruling, Ladoja headed for the Appeal Court to have the judgement upturned. Again, the Appellate judgement delivered on Thursday, December 17, 2015 in Ibadan upheld the earlier tribunal ruling.

    Given this Appellate judgement therefore, the indigenes of Oyo State will continue “mourning” probably until the Supreme Court reverses the Thursday judgement should Ladoja pursue his case further. It is certainly not a crime to react to matters, election results inclusive, in a democracy but using a derogatory word like “mourning” to describe the mood of a people is deviant if the act of doing so could not be subjected to trial in a law court. Deviant in the sense that it is not only insulting to the sensibilities of the people but found within the purview of an arrogant mind who believes choosing someone else other than him as a leader is a mistake, and therefore highly risky to put those who have made the choice in a mournful state.

    In a contest like election, a candidate should not underrate the opponent for the opponent might have evolved a more vibrant strategy that could be success-attracting. In fact, underrating the opponent is a symptom of arrogant thought capable of eliciting the use of a derogatory word credited to Ladoja. And again, while in a contest like election, a candidate should not count much on the few sycophants around him or her because sycophants would ever want to sweeten his or her mind even in the face of impossibilities. There is no other word to replace sycophancy with than insincerity which, of course, might make one strategize against the realities.

    As a politician running for a governorship seat in Oyo State with thirty three local government areas, Ladoja was expected to spread his “popularity” to the 33 local government areas as a mode of survival but few sycophants around him deceived him into believing that he could emerge the winner in the governorship election probably consequent upon the hallucination informed by the questionable statistics that put Ibadan as a town inhabiting 55 percent of the Oyo State electorate. Ladoja is not only a former governor in the state, but a chief in Ibadanland; and expectedly a custodian of the town’s traditional institutions. This status could have earned him the loyalty of many indigenes of the town, and might have guided his hallucinatory strategists to predict victory for him. Had this been their calculation they were not logical at all. A logical strategist would not equate “indigene-ship” with residency for not all Ibadan indigenes are Ibadan residents, and not all Ibadan residents are Ibadan indigenes.

    While it could be an overstatement to regard Ajimobi as the best candidate in Nigeria, it is also a mischief to place him at par in terms of effective cum efficient leadership with other candidates at the election in Oyo State for he was the best among them. Like any other human, he has his weaknesses but these have not outweighed his strengths in my assessment. It would therefore be appreciated if he could surround himself with blunt minds who could help him identify his weaknesses for improvement with a view to ending the “mourning mood” of Oyo State indigenes and residents soonest as failure to get this done would vindicate Ladoja and other opponents.

     

    • George Oludare Ibikunle,

    Ibadan, Oyo State.

  • Ajimobi, Ladoja close ranks at Otun Olubadan’s burial

    Ajimobi, Ladoja close ranks at Otun Olubadan’s burial

    The eighth-day fidau of the late Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Omowale Kuye on Friday united the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the gubernatorial candidate of the Accord Party in the last general election, Senator Rashidi Ladoja.

    While Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged victorious at the April 11, 2015 governorship election, Ladoja who came second challenged the outcome of the election at the tribunal which eventually affirmed Ajimobi’s victory.  Ladoja has since appealed against the tribunal verdict.

    However, the political rivalry between the two seems to have thawed on Friday as they openly embraced each other and exchange at the Ikolaba, Ibadan residence of the late Federal Director of Budget, to the admiration of eminent personalities and clerics at the occasion.

    The ceremony provided Ajimobi another opportunity to tell the people of the state that he was not in any way at loggerheads with Ladoja whom he referred as his elder brother, saying that politics apart, the bond between them was still intact.

    “Politics is a funny game which pits brothers against brothers, friends against friends and even majority ethnic groups against minority groups. And this is exactly what has happened between me and my brother, Senator Ladoja.

    “Even when you don’t want to quarrel, your supporters will be inciting you to quarrel. Such is the nature of politics. Politics makes siblings to go against one another.

    “But honestly, politics apart, there is no personal animosity between us. Senator Ladoja is my brother; I will never fight him,’’ he said.

    Extolling the late Chief Kuye, he described him as a role model, an extremely brilliant, honest and candid man who had a lot of integrity.

    Extending his condolences to the family and widow of the deceased,  Chief (Mrs.) Priscilla Kuye, Senator Ajimobi encouraged them to  take solace in the good legacies left behind by  him saying his great works would surely outlive him.

    Earlier at a lecture, the Chief Imam of the University of Ibadan Central Mosque, Prof. Abdur-Rahman Oloyede admonished supporters of different political parties to emulate the harmonious relationship between Ladoja and Ajimobi despite their political differences.

    Dignitaries present at the occasion included former Governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, former Military Administrator of Lagos State, Gen. Raji Rasaki (rtd.), former Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Nurudeen Adekola, a former Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun and renowned industrialist, Chief Kola Daisi.

    Others were Former Minister of Sports, Gen. I.B.M. Haruna, the Chairman Kakanfo Inn and Conference Centre, Dr. Lekan Are, a former Minister of Sports, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Chief Kareem Latunji, Wife of a former Governor of Oyo State, Chief (Mrs.) Mutiat Ladoja as well as all Ibadan high chiefs and members of the Olubadan-in-Council.

  • ‘Ladoja can’t upturn Ajimobi’s victory’

    ‘Ladoja can’t upturn Ajimobi’s victory’

    The immediate past Chairman of Ido Local Government Area, Prof. Adeniyi Olowofela has said that Senator Rashidi Ladoja of Accord Party (AP) does not have strong case capable of upturning the victory of Governor Abiola Ajimobi if he appeals the tribunal’s judgment.

    There is news making the rounds that Ladoja will challenge the verdict of the Oyo State Governorship Elections Petitions Tribunal which upheld the election of the APC candidate.

    The tribunal had, on Tuesday last week, dismissed the petition filed by the Accord Party candidate, Senator Ladoja on the grounds that it lacked merit.

    Speaking to reporters on the matter, the Professor of Geophysics at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta Ogun State and politician said Ladoja had no strong case but a distraction to disturb Ajimobi from running his government smoothly.

    According to Olowofela, Ladoja should stop legal pugilism and cooperate with Ajimobi, saying it is on record that Ajimobi has respect for Ladoja as an elderly brother and a High Chief in Ibadan land.

    He added that his ability to fight a political battle is not in doubt, adding that in the spirit of ‘no victor no vanquished’, it is time the High Chief embraced modesty and support his younger brother in this new political dispensation.

    He said the judgment was not only a victory for the All Progressives Congress, but also a victory for democracy and the rule of law, adding that though the road has not been smooth, the judgment will give hope to him (Ajimobi) to fulfil his promises to the people.

    He urged Ajimobi’s opponents to join hands with him in order to move Oyo State forward, even as he advised the governor to continue his good works to take the state to an enviable status.

     

  • ‘Ladoja on wild goose chase’

    ‘Ladoja on wild goose chase’

    The decision of the Accord governorship candidate in Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, to challenge the judgment of the election petition tribunal at the Court of Appeal has been described as a “wild goose chase”.

    In a statement yesterday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said Ladoja’s decision was that of a retiring politician, who received no benefits for his service.

    A three-man tribunal, headed by Justice Mohammed Mayaki, last week dismissed Ladoja’s petition challenging the election of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, saying the petitioner could not prove his allegation of rigging.

    The party’s Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, berated Ladoja for “creating unnecessary tension in the state before, during and after the general election”.

    “A popular saying suggests that one should quit the stage while the ovation is loudest but Ladoja bowed to his innate spirit of covetousness and overstretched his luck and thus outlived his relevance in the state’s politics.

    “We can only wish Ladoja a long life at retirement notwithstanding his decision to further engage in shadow-chasing over the last April election.”

  • Ajimobi to Ladoja: You will fail again if you appeal

    Ajimobi to Ladoja: You will fail again if you appeal

    Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on Wednesday said that no amount of intrigues, blackmail and manipulations by the opposition Accord and its governorship candidate in the last general elections, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, could unseat him as governor.

    He stated this while addressing hundreds of artisans, traders, market men and women, as well as religious bodies who thronged the Governor’s Office to congratulate him on his victory at the election petitions tribunal on Tuesday.

    The group comprised over 25 professional associations including the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Employees (NUPENG), National Council of Muslim Youth Organization (NACOMYO), National Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Fuji Musicians Association of Nigeria (FMAN), Igede Development Association and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) among others.

    In apparent reference to Ladoja’s decision to appeal against the tribunal’s judgment, the governor said his mandate was of God, stressing that no amount of blackmail could change the will of God and the mandate freely given by the people of the state.

    Ajimobi said: “When I heard that my egbon, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, said that he was not satisfied with the tribunal judgment and that he vowed to head for the Court of Appeal, I said he (Ladoja) should go to wherever he wants to go.

    “But I want to assure you all and the good people of Oyo State, that thousands of Accord Party and its candidate, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, cannot unseat me. This mandate is of God and popularly given to me by the good people of this state.

    “We must all work together to develop Oyo State. We must never allow enemies of this state to thrive again. We give glory to God that he has taken care of all the troublers of our state. So what should be our concern now is how to ensure that this state is taken to greater height.’’

    While thanking the people of the state for their unflinching support for his administration, especially before, during and after he succeeded in breaking the second term jinx, he promised to spare no effort to ensure all-round development of the state.

    Ajimobi pledged that his administration would continue to implement policies and programmes that would promote the well-being of artisans, traders and all professional associations as a deliberate step to boost small and medium scale businesses.

    The Deputy State Chairman of NATA, Alhaji Rahman Oyediran and Alhaja Motilade Adedeji, President of Pepper Sellers Association, who spoke on behalf of others, thanked God for the victory and pledged their unalloyed support for the Ajimobi’s administration.

  • Ajimobi floors Ladoja at tribunal

    Ajimobi floors Ladoja at tribunal

    •Ex-governor’s lawyer: we shall appeal

    Former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja  yesterday lost his petition against the election of Governor Abiola Ajimobi, ending six months of legal tussle.

    The governorship election petitions tribunal, sitting in Ibadan, the state capital, held that Ladoja and his party, Accord, “failed woefully” to prove their case.

    In a unanimous judgment, tribunal Chairman  Justice Mohammed Mayaki said Ladoja and Accord did not prove their allegations of rigging, electoral malpractices, violence and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, among others.

    The tribunal resolved all the issues for determination in Ajimobi’s favour during the delivery of the four-and a half-hour judgment.

    Ladoja urged the tribunal to, among others, declare him winner of the election because he polled the highest number of votes.

    The former governor said Ajimobi’s election and return were voided by “acts, which clearly violate and breach various provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, including but not limited to rigging and manipulation of election results, unprecedented acts of violence, thuggery, deliberate refusal to use card reader  and allocation of votes where election did not hold”.

    Ladoja also sought the cancellation of election in the 10 local government areas of Atiba, Atisbo, Iseyin, Iwajowa, Kajola, Itesiwaju, Oriire, Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South and Surulere.

    He also sought the cancellation of results in some wards in 11 other local governments.

    Ladoja urged the tribunal to declare him winner because he would be left with the highest number of votes, if the election in the above local governments and wards were cancelled.

    Alternatively, the Accord candidate prayed the tribunal to order a fresh election in the state in accordance with the Electoral Act.

    While reviewing the case yesterday, the three-man tribunal held that Ladoja and Accord could not prove their claims in line with the legal dictum that “he who alleges must prove”.

    The tribunal faulted the star witness, Bimbo Adepoju, on points of law, describing his evidence as inadmissible since he admitted he was not an expert in electoral matters. His statements, the tribunal added, were contradictory.

    Adepoju said he was a farmer, adding that he had no special skills in analysing election materials and reports.

    For this reason, the tribunal held that Adepoju’s testimony could only be taken as an opinion, which could be useful anyway, but could not be taken as a body of information that the tribunal can rely on in deciding the petition.

    “It is clear that Adepoju is not an expert and neither did he claim so. Some of his claims were contradictory. It is clear that voter cards, card readers and relevant INEC forms are to be handled as specified by the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

    “Though Adepoju and his team analysed the report, only experts in that area can give the kind of analysis that the court can rely on, “ Justice Mayaki said.

    The tribunal held that though the petitioners alleged that election did not hold in many places, their witnesses confirmed that it held except in some units where they alleged that results were allocated in  Ajimobi’s favour.

    The tribunal noted that most of the evidence adduced by the petitioners and their witnesses were inadmissible as they failed to meet the requirements of the Electoral Act.

    It held that the documents tendered could not demonstrate that the allegations were incontrovertible.

    The documents, it said, had no evidential value, adding that the evidence did not address specific cases or allegations leveled.

    “The petitioners failed woefully to relate evidence with specific allegations and incidents as claimed.

    “On the whole, we hereby hold that the allegations determined above have not been established beyond reasonable doubt. Even if the petitioners proved non-compliance, which they did not do, an election result cannot be merely invalidated, except it substantially affects the total result in favour of the respondent,” the tribunal held.

    “We hold that the petitioners abandoned their reliefs and they failed woefully to establish their allegations. In view of the above, it is not worthwhile dwelling on evidence of respondents.

    “The tribunal holds that the issues are resolved in favour of respondents having secured the majority of votes cast in the April 11 election, and in compliance with the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

    “Accordingly, the petition is dismissed,” the tribunal held.

    Ladoja’s counsel Richard Ogunwole (SAN) said his client would appeal the judgment because the tribunal dismissed the petition on the strength of inadmissible evidence and incompetent witness.

    “We won’t waste time. We won’t waste time at all. We are appealing without delay,” he said.

    Ajimobi’s counsel Adebayo Ojo (SAN) hailed the judgment.

    He praised the judges, saying they delivered a well-researched judgment.

    The lawyer described it as the legitimisation of Ajimobi’s victory in the election.

  • Tribunal dismisses Ladoja’s petition against Ajimobi

    Tribunal dismisses Ladoja’s petition against Ajimobi

    The Oyo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed the petition filed by the candidate of Accord, Sen. Rashidi Ladoja against the election of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In the unanimous judgment read by the Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Mohammed Mayaki, the tribunal holds that Ladoja and Accord “failed woefully” to prove their allegations of rigging, electoral malpractices, violence and non-compliance with the Electoral Act among others, beyond reasonable doubt.

    Delivery of the judgment lasted for four and a half hours.

    The tribunal resolved all the issues determined in favour of Ajimobi.

    It rejected the evidences presented by all Ladoja’s witnesses, saying they were not specific to incidents as claimed as well as failed to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.

    Consequently, the tribunal upheld the election of the incumbent governor having polled the majority of votes cast in the April 11 election.

    Details later…

  • Tension in Ibadan over Ladoja vs Ajimobi judgment

    Tension in Ibadan over Ladoja vs Ajimobi judgment

    •Police beef up security

    Tension is high in the camps of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the Accord Party (AP) in Oyo State as the governorship election tribunal delivers its judgment today.

    Following four months of legal fireworks, the tribunal will decide who won the April 11 election between former governor Rashidi Ladoja and Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had returned Ajimobi as winner of the election.

    Ladoja, who contested on the platform of Accord, challenged the victory of Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the tribunal.

    He joined the APC, the Resident Electoral Commissioner and INEC in the petition.

    The Director-General, Ladoja Campaign Organisation, Adeolu Adeleke, yesterday said:  “We are expecting the tribunal to declare Senator Rashidi Ladoja as the governor.”

    APC’s Director of Publicity and Strategy Wale Shadare said Governor Ajimobi and the party were sure of victory.

    He described Ladoja as a comedian, saying he raised so many issues, that he could not prove before the tribunal.

    Ladoja, who claimed that he scored the highest number of votes in 22 of the 33 local government areas, asked the tribunal to declare him winner or order a rerun.

    His lead counsel, Richard Ogunwole, contended that election took place in 23 local government areas and in some units in the remaining 10 local governments, adding that the election was fraught with non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2010.

    He alleged that there were cases of non-accreditation of voters, deliberate refusal to use the smart card readers, over-voting, multiple thumb-printing of ballot papers, ballot stuffing, ballot paper and boxes snatching and so on.

    He tendered close to 200 exhibits and called many witnesses during the hearing session.

    Ajimobi ‘s counsel Wole Olanipekun told the tribunal that the petition was grossly incompetent and there was no substantial evidence in it, urging the panel to dismiss it.

    According to him, Ladoja did not emerge Accord candidate through party primaries and so was not qualified to stand for the election.

    But Ogunwole asked Olanipekun to prove his claim.

    APC’s lead counsel Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and lead counsel to the REC and INEC Yusuf Ali (SAN) defended the election result.

    The tribunal, which adopted the addresses on September 30, told the counsel that the judgment day would be communicated to them.

    The tribunal, which admitted many of the documents tendered by Ladoja in support of his petition, also dismissed the application of the petitioners, which sought to submit the forensic report of the recounting of ballot papers.

     

    Ladoja challenged the dismissal at the application at Court of Appeal, but the appellate court, in its ruling on October 14, upheld the decision of the tribunal.

    The tribunal also dismissed the objections raised by counsel to the respondents that the motion brought before the court by the appellant was not duly signed.

    The tribunal held that the motion was duly signed by Ogunwole and therefore dismissed the objection.

    The Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade, has warned anyone, who has no business at the tribunal and its environs to stay away, adding that anyone or group which foments trouble would be arrested and prosecuted.

    “Enough well-equipped, uniformed and plain-clothed policemen, comprising operatives drawn from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), mobile police, Counter Terrorism Unit, Explosive Ordinance Department, State Intelligence Bureau, Dog Section and mounted troupe, will be deployed.

    “The deployment has since commenced to forestall any breakdown of law and order. All the personnel deployed have been briefed. The Commissioner of Police will personally be in charge of the operations.”

  • Oyo APC: Ladoja should be jittery

    Oyo APC: Ladoja should be jittery

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday said former Governor Rashidi Ladoja has every reason to be jittery ahead of the judgment by the election petition tribunal hearing his petition against Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    The former governor alleged at a briefing on Sunday that Governor Ajimobi was boasting of victory at the tribunal.

    But the APC described it as “alleged palpable apprehension in the camp of the former governor,” saying it was understandable.

    A statement by its Director of Publicity and Strategy, Olawale Sadare, said Ladoja and his supporters were merely looking for excuses which they would claim as being responsible for their inevitable humiliation at the tribunal when the much awaited verdict is delivered.

     

  • Ajimobi, Ladoja return to tribunal today

    Former Oyo State Governor Rashidi Ladoja and Governor Abiola Ajimobi will return to the governorship election tribunal today to finalise their arguments on the petition filed by Ladoja.

    The tribunal, in August, fixed today for adoption of final addresses after the parties presented evidences and witnesses to prove their claims.

    The three-man panel is headed by Justice Muhammad Aliu Maiyaki, with justices Muhammad Karaye and J.E.Ikede as members.

    Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Yusuf Alli concluded the hearing. In closing his argument, he told the tribunal that there was no need for his client to call any witness because the original INEC documents were enough evidence to the fact that elections were held contrary to the petition brought by Ladoja and his party, Accord.

    Alli added that all the original documents admitted as exhibits before the panel were testimonies that that results garnered by parties and their candidates were recorded accurately and not falsified as claimed by the petitioners.

    He maintained that “since nobody has tendered any other result aside the one announced by INEC, it shows there was no falsification of the result of the election as included in the petition of Senator Ladoja”.

    Ladoja, the Accord governorship candidate in the April 11 election in Oyo State, is challenging Ajimobi’s victory.

    The petitioner also joined APC, INEC and its Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Rufus Akeju.

    Richard Ogunwole is representing the petitioners; Wole Olanipekun and Olumuyiwa Aduroja are Ajimobi’s counsel; Oluwarotimi Akeredolu represents the APC.

    Justice Mayaki said respondents had 10 days to write and file their final written addresses while the petitioners had seven days within which to file the same.

    He added that all the parties had five days to reply on point of law.

    “The parties also have additional 10 pages aside from the 40 pages meant for the final addresses for their objections to the admissible of documents tendered during the hearing session,” Justice Mayaki said