Appeal Court Upholds PDP Rep Victory, Dismisses APC Challenge

The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure on Thursday, upheld the victory of Hon. Bamidele Salam as the lawmaker representing Ede/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency in the House of and dismissed appeal of Ho. Adejare Bello.

Hon. Adejare Bello of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had challenged the declaration of Hon. Salam (PDP) as the winner of the election at the elections petitions tribunal.

The lower court had in a ruling on 2nd of September, nullified the election of Bamidele 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, Hon. Adejare 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.