The National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday upheld the elections that produced two Labour Party candidates, Jesse Okey-Joe Onuakalusi and Olawande George as winners of the Oshodi-Isolo Federal and Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituencies.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the LP candidate as the winner of the election after he polled 29,386 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Ganiyu Johnson, who garnered 16,650 votes in the exercise.
Johnson, who represented the constituency from 2019 to 2023, had challenged the election outcome over alleged fraud. But the tribunal on Monday ruled that Jesse Okey-Joe Onuakalusi and Olawande George were validly elected.
In a press statement released on Monday, Olubunmi Odesanya, Lagos Publicity Secretary Labour Party, described the tribunal’s decisions as great joy, adding that the judgements showed the impartiality of the judicial system in election petitions.
The statement reads: “It is with great joy that we celebrate the victories of our own sitting Honourable Members of the House of Representatives in the persons of Honourable Okey-Joe Onuakalusi and Honourable Wande George as the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ikeja Lagos upheld their elections as Members representing Oshodi-Isolo II and Amuwo-Odofin Federal Constituencies at the National Assembly Abuja.
“This verdict affirms Labour Party belief that indeed our Judiciary can still dispense justice without fear or favour.
“It is our strong belief that our Nation, Nigeria, can still be salvaged with the right people in the right institutions of the State. We at Labour Party commend the Tribunal Judges for dispensing this fair and truthful judgement.
“In view of the above, we at the Labour Party Lagos State urge the Judges at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, PEPT in Abuja to toe the line of their colleagues in Lagos as they set to deliver judgement on Wednesday September 6th, 2023. This is an enormous responsibility in their hands and we urge them deliver justice in the interest of Nigeria not self.
“We want the Tribunal Judges to realise that the destinies of over two hundred millions are in their hands. This is the time to put Nigeria in her rightful place in the committee of nations. A position denied the Country by the acts of misgovernance and maladministration inflicted on us by brigandage and charlatans posing as leaders in the time past.
“We urge the Judges not to succumb to any form pressure or intimidation from any quarter. Nigeria is bigger than all of us and our allegiance should be to the nation not self.
“The time to take back Nigeria is now. In like-manner, we implore all Labour Party members and supporters and indeed all ObiDients to remain optimistic that our Principal, PETER OBI will be given his clear mandate as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria tomorrow September 6 2023.
“This will be a definitive move to take back our Country and steer it back on the right track of greatness. It is the only leadership that will birth a New Nigeria.
“Furthermore, Labour Party Lagos State received with rude shock and sadness the judgements delivered by the National and State Assembly Petition petition Tribunal wherein in our sitting House of Representatives Member for Ojo Federal Constituency was sacked and the plea of our Lagos Central Senatorial Candidate’s were thrown out based on matters we feel are pre-election issues.
“We reiterate our hope, trust and confidence in the Nigerian Judiciary for a truly strong democracy that will usher in the new Nigeria we all hope for and desire.”