Kwara: Court Dismisses Ajibola’s Suit against Gov. Ahmed’s Victory

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Senator Simeon Ajibola challenging the election of Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed as the governor of Kwara State.

Governor Ahmed was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Governorship election held on April 11, 2015.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/688/2015, the PDP and its candidate, Ajibola had approached the federal high court to challenge the victory of Governor Ahmed in the election.

Justice S.E Chukwu in his ruling dismissed the appeal on the grounds that the plaintiffs had no locus standi to institute the case and on other grounds as argued by the defendant counsel in the preliminary objection. The court, therefore, upheld the election of Ahmed as governor of the State.

Ahmed, the APC candidate, was returned elected as governor of Kwara State at the April 11, 2015 election. He was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the result released by INEC, Governor Ahmed polled a total number of 295,832 votes to defeat Senator Ajibola of the PDP, who had 115,220 votes. The candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Mike Omotosho scored 2,973 votes to emerge second runners up in the election. The scores as announced by INEC showed that Governor Ahmed won in all the 16 local government areas of the State.
Meanwhile, Governor Ahmed has described Friday’s judgment as a victory for democracy and the rule of law, noting that the court’s decision was an affirmation of the clear mandate freely entrusted with him by the good people of Kwara.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, the governor called on members of the opposition party and their supporters to join hands with his administration to move the State forward. He assured the people of the state of his commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises before the expiration of his tenure.