GBENRO ADESINA/IBADAN
Accord Party’s senatorial candidate for Oyo Central district, Chief Bisi Ilaka, has disclosed his intention to appeal the judgement of the Oyo State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ibadan.
The tribunal led by Justice J.G Abundaga yesterday dismissed his petition against Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, the candidate of All Progressives Party (APC) and upheld the victory of Sunmonu in the March 28 election.
In a statement made available to newsmen, Ilaka said that the tribunal had turned itself into “a theatre of the absurd” by standing “justice and all the rules of fair play on its head” by denying him the opportunity to present his case within the 14 days stipulated by the Electoral Act.
The statement read, “It is very funny that the tribunal refused to sanction those who flouted its order to allow us access to the documents and ballot papers we need to present our evidence. It is curious, to say the least, that on the day that INEC released one of such documents, our hearing was closed.
“Having appealed the tribunal’s ruling of August 14 and the notice of appeal properly served on the tribunal, the tribunal rushed to pronounce judgment without waiting for the outcome of the appeal.
“These series of events seem pre-ordained. The judgment gives off a stench. Those in charge should make sure that they audit the judgement. We shall have our days at the Appellate Court. Our people should not lose faith as we shall overcome,”