Tribunal Affirms Senator Solomon Adeola’s Victory

MICHAEL AKINOLA

The National Assembly & State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has affirmed that the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 2019 National Assembly election for Lagos West Senatorial District, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Yayi), was the winner of the Senatorial election and was duly elected.

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Chairman Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Solomon Adeola, in the election had polled a total of 323,817 votes to emerge the winner. He defeated his closest rival Gbadebo Rhodes, of the Peoples Democratic Party, who had 243,516 votes.

Delivering judgment, the three-member tribunal led by Justice Kunaza Hamidu, held that the petition filed by Mr. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the election of Solomon Adeola failed as it did not establish any prima facie case against him.

“The petition lacked merit and is hereby dismissed.

“The declaration of Sen. Solomon Olamilekan Adeola by the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) as winner of Feb. 23 National Assembly election is hereby affirmed,” the tribunal declared.

Rhodes-Vivour had dragged Adeola and INEC before the Tribunal, challenging the result of the Lagos West Senatorial District election over alleged irregularities.

The judgment by the Tribunal and the dismissal of the petition by his opponent today affirms that the lawmaker was the authentic winner among the 10 candidates in the February 2019 election and duly elected.

Alinnor Arinze