Kwara community petition NJC over Appeal Court sacking of PDP lawmaker

The people of Odo-Ogun in Oyun local government area of Kwara State have petitioned the National Judicial Commission (NJC) over the sack of their representative in the state House of Assembly by the Appeal court.

The people also petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Committee for Defence of Human Right (CDHR), Socio-economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) among others.

Their representative, Otunba Taiye Afolabi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Odo-Ogun, Oyun local government area at the Kwara State House Assembly was later sacked by the Appeal Court verdict in Ilorin.

The appellate court had on November 28th, 2023 overturned the decision of the election petition tribunal that affirmed the election of PDP’s Atoyebi.

The constituents in the petition signed by one Rauf Dele Yusuf demanded a thorough investigation into the appeal court judgement, which they described as controversial.

The constituents claimed that “the State House of Assembly Tribunal had before then rightfully dismissed the petition against the PDP lawmaker filed by All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Yusuf Musa in the March 2023 Assembly election.

“The dismissal of sacking of the PDP lawmaker by the Appeal Court on the ground of certificate forgery was against the rule of law,” the petition read.

“As constituents, we ask if it was right for the court to make its ruling by imposing an issue that was not part of the petition submitted by the appellants. 

“The introduction of new issues that were not part of the original petition before the court is highly concerning and suggests a departure from established forgery against him.

“We consider this judgement as a deliberate twist of natural law of justice and total elevations of technicalities over rule of law and natural justice which are the principles that should guide the court from arriving at any decision,” it stressed.

The constituents alleged that the decision of the appellate court had imprimatur of external forces or influence.

“Your prompt attention to this matter is crucial to restore faith in the Nigerian judiciary and uphold the principles of fairness and justice.”