Disputed KWHA Seat: Your action, abuse of power, disregard for rule of law – PDP tells KWHA, Gov Abdulrazaq

Kwara PDP, APC know fate, today

By Mumini AbdulKareem

The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has
described the refusal to swear-in Hon Abdulrahaeem Agboola by the
Kwara State House of Assembly as an abuse of power and disregard for
the rule of law, calling on the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors
Forum (NGF), Governor Kayode Fayemi, to intervene.
The party also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC), security agencies, local and international NGOs to ask
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and the House of Assembly to urgently
retract their undemocratic stand and steps, by quickly admitting and
allowing democracy and justice to thrive in the state.
The call by the PDP is coming amidst anxiety and concerns over the
tussle for the disputed seat that High Court in Ilorin will make
pronouncement on today (Monday).
Recall that the leadership of the state House of Assembly had refused
to allow winner of the Court of Appeal Court judgement and the PDP
candidate, Hon Agboola, opportunity for documentation and swearing-in,
a few days ago.
The appellate court had declared Agboola of the PDP, winner of the
Ilorin South constituency’s election in the last general polls and was
subsequently issued a Certificate of Return by the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Addressing journalists in Ilorin, the state capital, over the weekend,
the state Chairman of PDP, Engr. Kola Shittu, described the Assembly
refusal to swear-in Agboola as an abuse of power and disregard for the
rule of law, calling on leader of NGF, Governor Fayemi, to intervene.
Shittu faulted the claim of the Chairman, House Committee on
Information, Culture and Tourism, Awolola Ayokunle, which said the
House was served a court summon joining the Speaker and Clerk to the
House, a motion on notice, filed in the Federal High Court by Hassan
Abdulazeez, seeking to refrain the House from swearing in Agboola
pending determination of the case.
He said the reason given by the legislature for not swearing- in the
lone PDP lawmaker was amusing and laughable, adding that the court of
appeal is the final arbiter for all litigations arising from national
and state Assembly elections.
“To this end, the judgement of the Appeal Court declaring Agboola as
winner of the Ilorin South constituency’s election cannot be appealed
nor can there be any stay of execution of the court judgement”, he
said.
Shittu, who said that the action of the leadership of the House should
be condemned by all, irrespective of political affiliations, added
that it is a violation of court ruling and subversion of democracy.
He said, “We, therefore, ask the leadership of the Kwara State House
of Assembly to respect the rule of law by admitting and swearing in
Hon. Abdulraheem Agboola Jimoh as the duly elected representative of
Ilorin South State constituency in the Assembly.”
As you all know, Agboola, a member of our party was recently declared
winner of the Ilorin South State constituency election by the Court of
Appeal, thereby unseating Abdulazeez Elewu of the All Progressives
Congress (APC). Consequently, he was last week Thursday, presented
Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral
Commission, INEC. “The wilful disobedience of a court order by the
leadership of the Assembly is a clear abuse of power and utter
disregard for the rule of law, which has become a hallmark of the APC
government, both at the state and national level. ”Nigerians and the
international community are aware of the several court rulings the
APC-led Federal Government has disobeyed in recent times, including
orders granting the likes of Omoyele Sowore, Sambo Dasuki and Ibrahim
El Zalzakky bail. We are, therefore, not surprised by the unlawful
action and disobedience of court judgement by the leadership of the
Kwara State House of Assembly. Indeed, the Muhammadu Buhari-led
Federal Government has set a bad precedent. ”This excuse is not only
untenable, it is silly, unreasonable, laughable and embarrassing, to
say the least. As we all know, the Court of Appeal is the final
arbiter for all litigations arising from National and State Assembly
elections. To this end, the judgement of the Appeal Court declaring
Agboola as winner of Ilorin South constituency election cannot be
appealed nor can there be any stay of execution of the court
judgment.” The PDP also called on Governor Abdulrazaq to call his
party men to order adding that, “it is glaring that the House isn’t
acting in isolation on this case. Despite his claims of being a
democrat, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has consistently influenced the
largely inexperienced Assembly to do his biddings including this
latest issue of Hon. Agboola. Both the Governor and House have made a
great error and a very undemocratic stand.”