The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Tuesday, declared Senator Abdulfatai Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the winner of the February 23rd, 2019 National Assembly election.
Buhari, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, is representing Oyo North Senatorial district.
The unanimous judgement of the panel, read by Justice Anthony Akpovi (Chairman) on the petition, marked EPT/OY/SEN/09/2019, said the petitioners Mulikat Adeola-Akande and the party that presented her for the National Assembly poll- the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), failed to prove their petition beyond reasonable doubt.
The panel, comprising of Justice Anthony Akpovi (Chairman) and Justice Chinyere Ani, also awarded a cost of N150,000 against the petitioners, and refused to grant the request of the petitioners for damages.
Buhari, who served as chairman Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime in the 8th National Assembly, won the election with over 18,338 votes to defeat Adeola-Akande as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Reacting to the judgement , Senator Buhari thanked Almighty Allah for the electoral and tribunal victories which further affirmed his acceptance by the electorates in the senatorial district .
He also thanked his party – the All Progressives Congress (APC), his legal team led by Lateef Fagbemi SAN , and constituents for their support and prayers.
The APC Chieftain maintained that the victory is a pointer to the fact that the judiciary still remains the hope of the masses.
The lawmaker, however assured his constituents that he will not relent in his effort to accelerate the development of the district and the constituents through qualitative representation.
