The Akure division of the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure has today, upheld the election of Hon. Bamidele Salam as the lawmaker representing Ede North, Ede South, Ejigbo and Egbedore Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Salam, who contested on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party was dragged to court by Hon. Adejare Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to challenge the declaration of Salam as the winner of the election at the elections petitions tribunal.
The lower court had on September 2, nullified the election of Salam after canceling the results of some units in Ede South, Ede North, Ejigbo and Egbedore as a result of over-voting.
Dissatisfied with the ruling of the tribunal that nullified his election and ordered rerun election in selected units across the federal constituency, Hon. Salam approached the Court of Appeal to set aside the ruling of the tribunal.
Salam in his appeal cited 38 grounds of appeal, covering errors in law, misapplication of lawrs, clear bias and wrong interpretation of the laws and guidelines covering election processes in Nigeria.
On his own part, the APC Candidate, Bello also approached the Court of Appeal in a cross-appeal, seeking the total cancellation of the House of Representatives election for the federal constituency.
In a unanimous decision, the appellate court set aside the decision of the Tribunal ordering rerun in 12 Units and has sustained the Appeal submitted by Salam.
The Appeal Court then considered the Cross Appeal of Barr. Rafiu Adejare Bello and struck it out on the grounds that it was premised on the same issues that has been resolved in my favor.
The Court went on to consider the Cross Appeal of INEC and sustained it, saying the Tribunal was wrong to have cancelled election in the 12 Units.
