Court Of Appeal Sacks Only Legislator From PDP In Kwara State
Before his disqualification, Afolabi was the only opposition party member among the 24 state lawmakers in the state.
The Court of Appeal on Tuesday sacked Mr Afolabi Taiwo as a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly.
Mr Afolabi who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared the winner of the Odo-Ogun constituency in the Oyun Local Government area of the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) after he secured 4410 to defeat Hon. Atoye Yusuf Musa who scored 3521 during the March Election.
Before his disqualification, Afolabi was the only opposition party member among the 24 state lawmakers in the state.
The Court of Appeal, in its ruling, on Tuesday declared that Yusuf Musa is the legitimate winner of the election, thus declaring him the elected lawmaker to represent the Odo-Ogun constituency in the Oyun Local Government area.
Also, the Court of Appeal equally affirmed the election of the youngest lawmaker in Nigeria Hon. Rukayyat Shittu who represents Owode/Onire Constituency (Asa) and Hon. Atoye Yusuf Musa (Shaare/Oke Ode Constituency).
The press statement released on the development by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye reads: “Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has congratulated All Progressives Congress (APC) on the victories of all its candidates at the Appeal Court, including the reclaiming of the Odo-Ogun State Constituency in Oyun Local Government.
“The victory on the Odo Ogun Constituency means that the APC now has all the 24 seats in the Kwara State House of Assembly.
“The Governor specifically congratulated Hon. Rukayyat Shittu of Owode/Onire Constituency (Asa); Hon. Razaq Owolabi (Shaare/Oke Ode Constituency; and Hon. Atoye Yusuf Musa, the APC candidate in the 2023 House of Assembly who has been declared the winner of the election.
He said the victory reaffirms the confidence of the people in the party and the government, and that the party ticked all the right boxes in the electoral process. The Governor added, however, that the victory comes with renewed responsibility on the affected legislators to deliver more to the people for the confidence reposed in our party.
“The Governor is confident that the legislators will continue to represent the interest of the people. He also commended the judges for standing firm by the law and resisting any blackmail or threat in the discharge of their constitutional duties.”
