KOGI WEST: Appeal Court Proved Dino ‘Stole’ Adeyemi’s Mandate – Bello

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has described Senator Dino Melaye’s loss at the Appeal Court as a proof that Smart Adeyemi’s mandate was allegedly stolen in the last Kogi West senatorial election.

Governor Bello said this while reacting to Friday’s ruling of the Appeal Court which upheld the earlier judgement of the Kogi National Assembly Election Tribunal nullifying the Kogi West  senatorial election.

According to the governor, the judgement validates his earlier position that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) manipulated the election.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed, Bello hailed the judiciary for  distinguishing itself as “an unbiased, independent and impartial institution.”

The governor said, “For upholding the petition by Senator Smart Adeyemi of the All Progressives Congress and ordering that a fresh election be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the constituency, the tribunal, led by Justice A.O. Chijioke and the Appeal Court have jointly proved to the world that the people’s mandate was stolen in the last Kogi West Senatorial Election.

“The courts did not decide in a vacuum but acted on the basis of the merits and demerits of the case before them.

“The Appeal Court and the entire Judiciary, therefore, deserves our commendation for further strengthening the democratic and electioneering processes in Nigeria.”

Speaking further, Bello congratulated the people of Kogi West Senatorial District for the reclamation of their “stolen mandate” via the courts, while also expressing confidence that Adeyemi of the APC will trounce Dino at the election.