By Sadiq Umar – The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ogun State, Friday sacked the senator representing Ogun East senatorial district, Buruji Kashamu for failing to comply with the electoral law.
Also sacked, is a member of House of Representatives from Ijebu East /Ijebu North /Ogun waterside, Adekoya Adesegun and five members of the State Assembly.
The tribunal thus ordered a rerun in 110 polling units, where irregularities were established.
Meanwhile, Sen. Buruji has said that the judgement did not in relieve him of his position as senator, but that the Tribunal merely ordered a rerun in some affected polling booths.
“We wish to say that this is not a true reflection of what transpired at the tribunal,” he stated, adding that“although the tribunal has said the full judgment will be made available on Monday, it could not be said to have sacked Kashamu because, according to it, after the removal of voided votes, Kashamu is still leading with 5,179 votes.”
A statement issued by Buruji’s media aide Austin Oniyokor reads:
“Our attention has been draw to some media reports that the Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Prince Buruji Kashamu, was today sacked by the Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
“We wish to say that this is not a true reflection of what transpired at the tribunal.
“Although the tribunal has said the full judgment will be made available on Monday, it could not be said to have sacked Kashamu because, according to it, after the removal of voided votes, Kashamu is still leading with 5,179 votes.
“According to the tribunal’s findings, Kashamu has 75,856 votes against Dapo Abiodun’s 70,677 votes. So how can the person leading be said to have been “sacked”? For who? The losing candidate? We think not. Besides, the rerun was ordered in 110 out of over 1,135 polling units in the senatorial district.
“Certainly, we are going to test veracity of the tribunal’s verdict at the Court of Appeal. The tribunal has given its judgment, but it is not the end of the road. That is the beauty of the judicial process.”
