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Tag: Smart Adeyemi

  • Adeyemi sues Melaye over Kogi West election

    A FORMER Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) President, Senator Smart Adeyemi has filed a petition against the election of Dino Melaye for Kogi West.

    Adeyemi, who had twice represented the senatorial district, said a lot of inflation of votes and over-voting were perpetrated at the polls and even at the collation centre.

    He also alleged that with the Certified True Copies of results at his disposal, it was evident that mutilated figures were announced in favour of Melaye.

    He said contrary to a ruling of the Federal High Court, obtained by Melaye, that the results for Kogi West District be collated in Kabba (the headquarters of the district), INEC for no other reasons moved the collation to Lokoja, which led to manipulation of results.

    He asked the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal to cancel the results and order the conduct of a fresh senatorial poll for the senatorial district.

    He said: “That a lot of inflation of votes and over-voting were perpetrated at the polls and even at the collation centre to ensure that the 1st Respondent (Melaye) is declared as winner.

    Read also: Kogi West: Melaye returned, defeats Smart Adeyemi

    “The petitioner avers that the collation and declaration of the results of the election was done by INEC and its officers at Lokoja contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act.

    “In the circumstance, false and fabricated entries were made in the Forms EC8A in the various wards of the Kogi West Senatorial District and by this act invented well over 18,000 votes in favour of Melaye

    “That significant instances of substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act and arbitrariness were perpetrated at the polling units by agents of the 2nd Respondent (the People’s Democratic Party) and INEC to effect the voting of Melaye by allowing manual voting and allowing unregistered voters and under-age to vote in six local government areas of the seven local government areas of Kogi West Senatorial District.”

    He sought a “declaration that the Certificate of Return issued by the INEC to Melaye as the  winner of senatorial election for Kogi West Senatorial District held on February 23, 2019 is null and void and of no effect whatsoever”.

    He asked for an order “cancelling the results of the six local governments in the district, namely Lokoja Local Government, Kabba/ Bunu LGA, Ijumu LGA, Yagba West LGA, Yagba East LGA and Mopa-Amuro LGA for non-compliance with the Electoral Act and for the 1st  respondent not being elected by majority of lawful votes due to over-voting”.

  • Melaye defeats Smart Adeyemi in Mopa-Moro

    The incumbent lawmaker representing the Kogi West Senatorial district at the National Assembly and candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in Saturday’s rescheduled general election, Senator Dino Melaye, defeated his major challenger in the race, Senator Smart Adeyemi of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Mopa-Moro LGA.

    The Collation Officer for Mopa-Moro LGA, Mr. Ibrahim Ismaila, announced the interim results at the INEC LG collation centre in office in Mopa around 3am on Sunday.

    He said that the PDP (senatorial) candidate, polled 5,112 votes, trailed by Adeyemi of the APC, who polled 3,658 votes.

    Other results from Mopa are:

    ADC – 784

    SDP – 26 votes

    Total valid votes – 9717

    Rejected votes – 336 rejected

    Total votes – 10,055

    House of Representatives:

    PDP – 3,703

    APC – 3,157

    ADC – 2,609

    Total votes- 10,042

    Valid votes – 9,704

    Rejected – 338

    Presidential:

    PDP – 5,336

    APC – 3,646

     

    Total – 10,055

    Valid – 9,507

    Rejected – 336

     

  • Chopper crash: How Smart Adeyemi, others narrowly escaped

     

    A Presidential Fleet helicopter that crashed at Kabba stadium in Kogi state narrowly missed Senator Smart Adeyemi and several of his loyalists in the area, it has been gathered.

    One of his close loyalists, Dare Olayemi, said Senator Smart Adeyemi, who lost his wife few months ago, was in a Coaster bus that the helicopter almost crashed upon on Saturday.

    “By all definition, the crash, the safety of VP Osinbajo and the fact that there was no casualty constitute a very strange miracle.

    READ ALSO:  2019/02/02 Osinbajo helicopter crashes in Kabba

    “I was among those who brought out the Vice President through the window of the crashed chopper; the man did not sustain a single bruise and he went ahead straightaway to launch the Tradermoni as earlier planned.

    “About thirty minutes earlier, a police helicopter which appeared to be an advance party had landed.

    “The Vice President’s helicopter appear to be shiny and in spectacular condition – far more impressive to look at than the previous one.

    “My leader, Senator Adeyemi and several others were in a Coaster bus when we suddenly realised that the pilot had lost control.

    “Were it not for God’s timely intervention and the pilot’s reaction, our bus could have become a trap in a stadium built by Senator Adeyemi for his people few years ago.

    “The surging crowd made it difficult for the bus to move and when the helicopter crashlanded, losing one side, some of us rushed to help but other than the VP, I can’t recognise faces of others in the helicopter.

    “It was indeed, a very strange miracle that none in the crowd and none of the helicopter occupants suffered any injury

    “Minutes afterwards, the Vice President carried on with the Tradermoni event as if the shocking and unprecedented spectacle that we all witnessed earlier, with our hearts in our mouth, was a non-event,” the Kabba indigene stated.

  • 2019: Smart Adeyemi, others emerge Kogi APC Senate candidates

    Senator Smart Adeyemi on Thursday won the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the candidate for the Kogi West senatorial district for the 2019 general election.

    The Kogi West APC primary which was witnessed by INEC and security personnel lasted between 11.30 Wednesday night and 6.30am on Thursday.

    It was conducted at the Olonijola Event Centre, in Kabba, headquarters of the senatorial district.

    Adeyemi polled 1,659 votes ahead of three other aspirants; Dr Toyin Akanle, Tajudeen Bissimillahi and Mrs Ibikunle Adedoyin who polled 104, 98 and 19 respectively, while 13 votes was voided.

    The Returning Officer, Mr. Bonnie Eneh, before declaring Adeyemi winner of the exercise, said that 1,900 delegates were accredited, while 1,893 voted.

    Akanle before the commencement of the exercise had however called for its postponement to the following day, on grounds that it was already late.

    Akanle was to later stage a walkout.

    In Kogi East Alhaji Jubril Isah (Echocho) was declared the winner of APC Senate primary.

    Following are the results from the nine LGAs of Kogi East for the APC Senate primary

    Idah LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho   162
    Prince Yahaya Audu   119
    Invalid         11

    Dekina LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho   335
    Prince Yahaya Audu   13
    Invalid       4

    Olamaboro LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho   273
    Prince Yahaya Audu    20
    Invalid      5

    Igalamela LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho 223
    Prince Yahaya Audu 54
    Invalid 2

    Ankpa LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho   373
    Prince Yahaya Audu  1
    Invalid   6

    Omala LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho   317
    Prince Yahaya Audu   3
    Invalid    3

    Ibaji LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho   259
    Prince Yahaya Audu   15
    Invalid   6

    Bassa LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho 272
    Prince Yahaya Audu 12
    Invalid 5

    Ofu LG
    Jibrin Isah Echocho 246
    Prince Yahaya Audu 71
    Invalid 3

    Total:

    Prince Yahaya Audu 308

    Alhaji Isah Jibrin 2,469

    For Kogi Central, Yakubu Oseni, who polled 1,100 emerged the winner of the APC Senate primary for the district.

    Others include Nurudeem Abatemi Usman 160 votes, Dalhatu Sharafadeen 371 votes and Yusuf Haruna 12 votes.

  • Adeyemi to tribunal: Nullify Melaye’s election

    Adeyemi to tribunal: Nullify Melaye’s election

    …Adeyemi’s petition is baseless – Melaye

    A former Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Smart Adeyemi, has asked the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal to nullify the election of Senator Dino Melaye.

    But Melaye asked the tribunal to dismiss Adeyemi’s petition for being grossly incompetent, a regrettable waste of time, incurably bad and unmeritorious.

    Adeyemi made the submissions in the final written address presented to the tribunal by his counsel namely Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Dr. Kayode Olatoke (SAN), A.O. Otitoju and T.O. Adeboye.

    The copy of the written address was obtained by our correspondent from the tribunal.

    Citing 53 authorities, Adeyemi said he scored majority of the lawful votes of 36,100 compared with Melaye’s votes of 33, 146.

    He also said Melaye was not qualified to contest the March 28 Senatorial election because he was not a product of valid primaries in All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Adeyemi said: “Melaye is not a product of any valid primaries of the 2nd Respondent (APC). Furthermore, a careful perusal of Exhibit 32(3) which is the purported report of INEC to evidence the conduct of APC Primary is not even on the letter headed paper of INEC nor that of APC and a careful reading of its heading will show its dubious status.

    “The document, therefore, constitutes documentary hearsay and has no probative or evidential value.

    Making reference to Supreme Court’s decision on Ojukwu v. Yar’Adua( 2009), Adeyemi urged the court to discountenance Melaye’s attempt to adduce fresh facts.

    He added: “Having said that, it is respectfully submitted that any evidence adduced contrary to the pleadings goes to no issue.”

    Adeyemi sought the following reliefs:  “We urge your Lordships to grant all the reliefs sought by the petitioners based on the following settled points:

    “The petitioners have proved their case based on unchallenged oral and documentary evidence adduced by them.

    “On the state of the pleadings, the respondents did not join issues with the petitioners on the key and crucial aspects of the petitioners’ case.

    “The oral and documentary evidence of the petitioners were not challenged at all by the respondents. In fact, the respondents did not produce counter oral or documentary evidence against same.

    “When the unlawful votes are deducted from the votes of the parties, the 1st petitioner will have the majority of lawful votes as shown in the address.

    “Alternatively to disqualify the 1st respondent (Sen. Dino Melaye), nullify the election and order a fresh election.

    But in his submission, Sen. Dino Melaye, through his lead counsel, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), said he was validly elected by the people of Kogi West Senatorial District.

     

  • Adeyemi vs Dino : Tribunal fixes Sept. 8 for hearing

    Adeyemi vs Dino : Tribunal fixes Sept. 8 for hearing

    The election petition tribunal sitting in Lokoja on Saturday fixed Sept. 8, for the hearing of a petition filed by Sen. Smart Adeyemi against the election of Sen. Dino Melaye.

    The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Akon Ikpeme fixed the date while closing pre-hearing in the petition challenging the election of Melaye as the senator representing Kogi West senatorial district.

    Before closing the pre-hearing session, the tribunal also granted Adeyemi’ s prayers to call additional witnesses and admitted the report of the recounted ballot papers in 21 polling units.

    The petitioner’s prayer for determination of the primary election of the 1st and 2nd respondents was also granted by the tribunal.

    In addition, the tribunal also granted the request of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw its amended motion of reply to the petition filed by Adeyemi on April 3.

    The INEC ‘s oral application to strike out some paragraphs in its motion was similarly granted by the tribunal.

    However, in fixing the date for the hearing of petition proper, Ikpem ruled that Adeyemi , INEC and Melaye would only be allowed two days to open and close their cases.

    She also ruled that 30 minutes would be given for cross-examination of witnesses; 10 minutes for cross-examination of other counsel’s witnesses while all documents must be filled before Sept. 7 and shown to other counsels involved.

    However, the 2nd respondent (APC), was granted 20 minutes for cross-examination, 30 minutes for examination of expert witnesses and 10 minutes for cross-examination of other counsel’s witnesses.

    Adeyemi is challenging the election of March 28, which brought Melaye as the senator representing the Kogi West senatorial district on grounds of irregularities in the results of the election.

    He is also asking the tribunal to disqualify Melaye for being improperly nominated as a candidate for the election by the APC.

    In addition, Adeyemi wants the tribunal to declare him the winner or order fresh elections in the disputed polling.

  • Smart Adeyemi heads for tribunal

    Smart Adeyemi heads for tribunal

    The senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Smart Adeyemi, has submitted a petition to the National Assembly Petition Tribunal in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

    He alleged irregularities in the conduct and the result declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the March 28 National Assembly election.

    Adeyemi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, is challenging the declaration of Dino Melaye of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner.

    In the result declared by INEC, he came second with 38,148 votes; Melaye scored 41,120 votes.

    Filing a petition through his lawyer, J.O Olatoke (SAN), Adeyemi alleged that Melaye was not duly elected or returned by the majority of the lawful votes cast during the election.

    In the petition, he claimed to have scored majority of lawful votes and ought to have been declared winner and returned as elected.

  • Jonathan support group for states to launder achievement

    Insecurity is the only blight of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, Senator Smart Adeyemi has said.

    Adeyemi, who is a member of National Unity Group (NUG), an umbrella body of different political parties supporting the President’s re-election bid, posited that Jonathan has done very well when compared to previous governments in the country and so deserves a second term.

    Jonathan, who is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag-bearer in the February 14 election, is facing a strong contender in the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Speaking during the inauguration of NUG state chapters, Senator Adeyemi noted that the group had been working for the past two years with Nigerians who look at issues with large heart for the re-election bid of the President.

    He said the group has superior argument to back up its claims about the performance of this administration.

    Adeyemi therefore declared that state coordinators should go out with superior argument to canvass for support for the President and also douse the arguments raised by the position about the score cards of Jonathan’s administration.

  • Senator to spend N10m on bursary

    Senator to spend N10m on bursary

    The lawmaker representing Kogi West at the National

    Assembly, Senator Smart Adeyemi, has pledged to give N10 million as the annual bursary for 200 students from the senatorial district.

    His spokesman, Chief Fehinti Dada, disclosed this yesterday in Lokoja when inaugurating a committee on the Senator Smart Adeyemi Scholarship Board.

    He said the lawmaker, who has been giving bursary to students of the district, discovered that more students are still coming for help, hence he established a scholarship board.

    Dada said 200 students across the wards in the seven local governments of the district would benefit from the N10million fund.

     

  • Kuta was a lover of his people, says Adeyemi

    Kuta was a lover of his people, says Adeyemi

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Smart Adeyemi yesterday said Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, who represented Niger East in the upper chamber, was a lover of his people.

    Adeyemi, who paid the tribute this in a statement in Abuja, said he knew the late Senator as a primary school pupil as a good man.

    The statement said: “It is really painful and shocking to lose a friend and elder brother like Senator Kuta.

    “I knew Senator Kuta while I was growing up as a primary school pupil in Niger State. He never changed from being himself and a lover of his people. I remember my last discussions with him two weeks ago. I mentioned the issue of his health and he said God was in control. He told me he had taken medications.

    “He was always concerned about the downtrodden and his constituents. He was always closed to me like an elder brother. To Kuta, Nigeria is one. He was never a tribalist or religious fanatic. He was a senator of the Federal Republic. To him, every Nigerian must have three square meals.”