Senator Dino Melaye
Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial District in the Senate, has lost his appeal to reverse the judgment of the Kogi National Assembly/State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, which sacked him as senator.
The three-man panel led by Justice A. O. Chijioke in a unanimous judgment accepted the appeal of his challenger and All Progressives Congress, Smart Adeyemi’s and ordered re-election.
The Kogi State National Assembly Election Tribunal Friday, 23 August ruled in favour of Adeyemi and ordered the INEC to conduct a fresh election. Melaye, however, appealed the ruling.
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Melaye, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, winner of the February election.
Adeyemi, a former Senator, challenged Melaye’s victory on three grounds of irregularities, over voting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
In a response, Melaye said in a tweet on Friday: “I just lost my election at the Appeal Court and fresh election ordered. In all things, I give God the Praise. He who started a good thing will definitely complete it. I ask my supporters to be law abiding as we shall always overcome. To God be the glory”
