Senator Olujimi reacts to Appeal Court victory, says, ‘Uncommon grace spoke for me’

 

• As Orji Kalu, Senate Chief Whip, also joins the winning train

 

BY OUR EDITOR

The former Senate Minority Leader and People’s Democratic Party’s Senatorial candidate in Ekiti South district in the 2019 election, Senator Biodun Olujimi, has described his Appeal Court victory of Wednesday as surprising and a renewal of her hope in the country’s democracy.

In a statement in Ado Ekiti Thursday, Olujimi said: “I have been speechless since Thursday morning when the Appeal Court Ado Ekiti, sitting in Kaduna upheld the decision of the lower tribunal to the effect that I, be returned as Senator, elected on the platform of the PDP in the last senatorial election.

“It’s a mixed feeling of relief and disbelief. However, let me thank the Almighty God, the author and the finisher of my faith for his compassion and mercy for, ‘if Paul sows and Apollo waters, without the grace of God, they do so in vain’. For me, it was sheer grace, uncommon grace that spoke for me and I will never take it for granted.

“Let me salute the courage and tenacity of Prince Dayo Adeyeye, my brother, my friend and my opponent in this struggle. He gave me a reason to put on my thinking cap, be on my toes. He gave me a strong reason to pursue my conviction with decency. Let me say, that I know how it feels to be in his situation, but I ask that he will understand that democracy is a bitter-sweet system, which we all submitted to. I wish him luck as he moves on to plan for the future and ask that he doesn’t jettison the zeal to assist and give back to his constituency.

“I cannot finish without acknowledging the judiciary, particularly, those that were involved in the tribunal and the appeal. They renewed my hope in a better Nigeria where justice is compelled by transparency and fairness. I salute you all. I pray that you don’t relent in your quest to be fair even in the face of huge tension.

Meanwhile, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State has described Adeyeye’s removal as painful.

In a statement by his chief press secretary, Yinka Oyebode, Gov Fayemi urged Adeyeye to remain calm despite the judicial pronouncement, saying that the ruling, though shocking and unexpected, was not the end of his political career nor his public service.

While congratulating Senator Olujimi, Fayemi also urged her to be magnanimous in victory and ensured that Ekiti interest was paramount in her agenda at the senate.

…Appeal Court reiterates Orji Kalu’s victory as Senator for Abia North

And from Owerri, Imo State, the Appeal Court Thursday affirmed the election of Senator Orji Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, on the platform of APC.

In a unanimous decision, the appellate court held that the lower tribunal, which upturned Kalu’s election, erred on several counts.

Delivering the judgment, the presiding judge, Justice R. A. Adah, said that the grounds upon which the lower tribunal predicated its verdict were not tenable in law.

He said that the lower tribunal granting the petitioner’s reliefs, which he did not ask for, was unacceptable in law.

The appellate court further said that former Senator Mao Ohuabunwa of the PDP literally dumped his avalanche of documents on the lower tribunal without calling witnesses to tie the document to his case.

It said that the lower tribunal erred by allowing the dumping of documents on the tribunal, adding that in law, the petitioner must establish proof by bringing witnesses, who would tie the documents to the substance of the case.

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