Court annuls EDHA Chief Whip’s election, orders fresh poll

By EBEN ENASCO KINGSLEY (BENIN CITY)

A Federal High Court sitting in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday, nullified the election of the lawmaker representing Ovia South- West in Edo State House of Assembly and Chief Whip of the House, Mr Sunday Aghedo.

It will be recalled that Aghedo’s fellow aspirant in the December 2, 2014 House of Assembly primaries of All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Godwin Adenomo, had gone to court, praying it to nullify Aghedo’s election. He contended that he won the primaries but it was upturned in favour of Aghedo by the APC.

Aghedo and the APC were joined as respondents in the suit where he equally prayed the court to declare him the winner of the House of
Assembly election as conducted across the country on April 11, 2015, having allegedly won the party primaries.

However, the APC and Aghedo had insisted that the latter was the candidate of the party for the election.

But in his ruling, Justice Muhammed Liman ordered that a fresh House of Assembly primaries be conducted by the APC after which a re-run election would be conducted.

Reacting, counsel to Adenomo, Mr kingsley Obamogie,said his client would appeal the judgment, adding that they expected the court to
declare Adenomo the winner of the general election outrightly after he was wrongfully substituted by the party.

“My client won the primaries and a certificate of return was issued him and as such, he won the election as conducted on April 11, 2015.
Even the judge affirmed that Adenomo won the primaries and I wonder why he was not given the ticket as the man there has Reactions Discussed seems to be taking longer than usual.