APM candidate seeks nullification of Temitope’s electoral victory

Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate for Ogun State House of Assembly, Sotayo Johnson, has challenged the election of Adejojo Temitope for Abeokuta South I state constituency in the March 9, 2019 election.

Johnson, who was arrested for alleged vote buying by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives during the election, said Temitope of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the poll.

The plaintiff, therefore, asked the Election Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him certificate of return as the duly elected lawmaker.

Johnson prayed that in the alternative, the election should be nullified and a fresh one ordered.

INEC, Temitope and APC were listed as first, second and third respondents in the petition.

But in a swift reaction, Temitope said he was surprised that his opponent approach the tribunal, adding that in saner societies, a politician who was arrested for vote buying would be in jail by now, urging security agencies to do the needful.

He said, “I am not perturbed at all. I believe the judiciary is up to the task to dispense justice accordingly.”

Besides, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the March 9, 2019 House of Assembly election for Ondo West Constituency II, Abiola Oladapo, has expressed hope that he would retrieve his mandate from APC.

Oladapo, who said this while speaking with journalists in Akure yesterday, sought cancellation of the poll in which Adewale Adewinle emerged winner based on what he described as irregularities and intimidation of voters.

He had filed his case at the tribunal before the expiration of the window for such opportunity as stipulated in the electoral guidelines.

Meanwhile, a governorship aspirant in the 2016 Edo gubernatorial election under APC, Maj-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd.), has vowed to run for governorship primary in the state.

He stressed that he would continue to pursue his governorship ambition until he realises his dream, insisting that no amount of intimidation from within the APC and its leaders would deter him.

Airhiavbere, who had contested in 2012 and 2016, under the PDP and APC, said he remains a committed and loyal member of the APC despite his purported suspension at Oredo Ward 1.