Ajimobi heads for Appeal Court

By Tope Abiola - 24.03.2008

THE governorship candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has concluded arrangements to appeal the judgment of the election petition tribunal which ruled against his petition challenging the election of Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune at the weekend, the Secretary of the ANPP in the state, Mr. Sola Osotoye, said four Senior Advocates of Nigeria, to be led by Chief Niyi Akintola, would file the appeal this week.

Osotoye said all arrangements had been concluded to challenge the judgment of the Justice Teni Hassan-Yusuf-led tribunal at the appellate court, which he described as ‘a rape’ on the prayers of the ANPP governorship candidate at the tribunal.

Osotoye said the leadership of the party was behind the governorship candidate, saying “we are not deterred by the intimidations of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. We are supporting Senator Ajimobi morally, financially and spiritually and we believe that justice will be granted in our favour.”
The Oyo State ANPP scribe described last Monday’s ruling by the tribunal as “a ruse and a cheat on our nascent democracy.”

Reacting, Governor Alao-Akala, through his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said “Ajimobi’s appeal is not a threat to our victory.”

Oyelade said in a telephone interview with the Nigerian Tribune that “he can challenge the ruling, but I am sure that we will be vindicated again.”