By Rosheedah Abdulsalam
The lawmaker representing Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Irepodun/Osi Federal Constituency in the house of representatives Hon. Raheem Olawuyi Ajuloopin might loose his quest to retain his seat as he might be disqualified from participating on the 2023 general elections.
This is because a Federal High Court sitting in Abakaliki the Ebonyi state capital in a rulling on Friday relying on Section 115 (d) & (k) of the Electoral Act ruled that a candidate cannot present self for two primaries in the same election year/cycle.
The Court in the ruling to determine the rightful senatorial candidate of the APC, in Ebonyi Central ruled that Mrs Ann Agom-eze is the candidate and not Gov Dave Umahi who used his brother as a placeholder to hold down the ticket while he ran for the APC presidential ticket.
The Court further, it held that the placeholder having withdrawn his candidacy makes the runner up APC candidate in the primaries the candidate.
It would be recalled that the Senator representing Kwara South Lola Ashiru had defeated Ajuloopin by 158 votes to 154 votes in the APC Kwara South Senatorial District Primaries held in May 28, 2022.
It would also be recalled that a day earlier the APC Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Irepodun/Osi Federal Constituency seat was held at Omu-Aran, where Cornelius Oluwasegun Adebayo, son of a one-time Kwara civilian governor, was declared winner.
However, following a petition by some aspirants in the election, to the APC appeal committee on irregularities noticed at the primary election, the National headquarters of the APC informed the state and sent officials to reconduct the Ekiti, Oke-Ero, Irepodun, Isin Federal House of Representatives seat, alongside that of other states.
A rerun election was held at Omu-Aran, on Friday, June 10, 2022, and Rajeem Tunji Olawuyi Ajuloopin emerged winner for the same seat.
Reacting to the development, Adebayo condemned what he described as a ” kangaroo rerun election, saying it is null and void and cannot stand the test of time.
Addressing newsmen in Ilorin Friday June 10, 2022 Adebayo’s media team leader, Emmanuel Moronfoye recalled that Adebayo clearly won the original primary election which was held on the 27th of May, 2022 at Omu-Aran.
“It came as a rude shock to Engr. Adebayo and his supporters that another rerun was being conducted for the Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Irepodun/Isin constituency Federal House of Representatives seat, with the inclusion of an aspirant who had never participated in the initial process.
It is worthy of note that Hon Raheem Tunji Olawuyi (Ajulo-Opin) contested for the APC Kwara South senatorial district primary election and lost to Sen. Lola Ashiru.
“Also, it is pertinent to state that Hon. Tunji Raheem Ajulo-Opin didn’t by any means whatsoever contest for the Federal House of Representatives seat of the Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Irepodun/Isin Federal Constituency.
Moronfoye disclosed that Ajuloopin, “didn’t partake in the screening for the House of Representatives seat, he didn’t make it to the ballot for the original primary election for the Federal House of Representatives seat and in a similar vein, there isn’t any evidence whatsoever to show that he bought a nomination form for the Federal Representative seat, except if he fraudulently connived with the so-called “cabal” to get the nomination form.”
The spokesman argued that “it is important to note that there is no valid ground for the schedule of the purported re-run primary election, as there wasn’t any protest or valid complaint against the initial primary election, as the result was widely accepted by all.
“The purported re-run election was not communicated to Engr Cornelius Oluwasegun Adebayo and the reason for the cancellation of the only valid election is still unknown,” he added.
The action is a crime under Section 115 of the Electoral Act which made anyone found wanting to be interviewed by the police, preparatory to a formal criminal trial.
