Top Story

Kogi 2019 poll: Again, INEC declares Dino Melaye’s Kogi West Senatorial election “inconclusive’’

268

 

Again, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared the Kogi West Senatorial election involving PDP’s Sen. Dino Melaye and Mr Smart Adeyemi of APC inconclusive.

 

 

The poll was generally marred by violence, fatalities and intimidation of the electorate.

 

Prof. Olayinde Lawal, the Returning Officer for the district, who declared the poll as inconclusive, said a new date for rerun would be announced soon.

 

He said rerun would be conducted at 53 polling units on the new date.

 

Adeyemi, a former Senator on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party and now a member of APC, had garnered 180, 118 votes while Melaye, whose election into Senate was nullified by the tribunal and the Appeal Court, scored 159, 548.

 

Melaye’s cousin, who was shot by armed thugs on Saturday during polling, died on Sunday in hospital.

 

He has rejected the outcome of the exercise which he described as “helicopter election’’.

 

“Helicopter was used in my constituency to perpetrate rigging, dropping of bullets, teargas on innocent citizens and intimidating them.

 

“For the first time in my life, I saw helicopter being used to rig election and ballot boxes carted away and later returned with ballots stuffed in them in the presence of security agents,’’ Melaye said.

 

The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mrs Natasha Akpoti, has called for the outright cancellation of the Kogi polls, alleging large scale rigging and manipulation.

 

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Just in: Seven new ministers take oaths of office

President Bola Tinubu has sworn in seven newly appointed ministers, directing them...

Just in: Appeal Court acquits ex-CJN, Onnoghen, orders FG to unfreeze his account

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Monday discharged and acquitted...

ECOWAS, Nigeria, Morocco, Mauritania Commit to $26bln African Atlantic Gas Pipeline Project

“The project, conceived in 2016 during King Mohammed VI of Morocco’s visit...

#EndBadGovernance protests: AGF to Police: Transfer casefiles of 72 defendants to my office

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince...

Updated: Abuja Court grants N1.1 bln bail to 114 #EndBadGovernance protesters

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a N10 million bail...

Just in: 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters arraigned in Abuja

The detained 76 #EndBadGovernance protesters just arrived at the Federal High Court...

Breaking: 10 fatalities confirmed as building collapses in Ibadan

A weehours building collapse in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday...

Breaking: After five hours of screening, Senate confirms Bianca Ojukwu, six others as ministers

The Senate on Wednesday screened and confirmed the nominations of Ambassador Bianca...

Senate begins screening of seven ministerial nominees

The Senate has started screening the seven ministerial nominees of President Bola...

Alleged homosexuality: RCCG suspends two pastors, launches investigation

For allegedly breaching the church’s doctrine and the Holy Bible, two pastors...

Helicopter crash: NNPC Ltd. spokesman Soneye cancels golden jubilee birthday celebration in honour of departed souls

Mr. Olufemi Soneye, the chief corporate communications officer of the Nigerian National...

Biden in 30-minute phone call with Tinubu, hails Binance executive release

President Bola Tinubu and US President Joe Biden held a 30-minute phone...

Tinubu Receives Briefing on Local Currency Oil Sales Amid Pricing Disputes

President Bola Tinubu has received a briefing from the Implementation Committee on...

Kcee and Flavour engage in heated exchange over Igbo music style

The Nigerian music industry is once again witnessing a brewing fiery clash...

In Lagos, 150 Ajegunle widows, vulnerable lifted with food items, cash gifts

As part of efforts to provide succor and the much-needed support to...

Economic hardship: I’m not T-pain, you are mischievous, Tinubu replies Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has come under fire from the Presidency...

Just in: Air Peace denies plan to hike Lagos-Abuja airfare

Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s leading airlines, has dismissed rumours about raising...

Updated: Copter Crash: Search Still Ongoing, No Other Additional Bodies Found – NNPC Ltd’s Spokesman Soneyea

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd) has said beyond the...

Nigeria joins BRICS as partner country, to boost economic ties

Nigeria has become a partner country of the BRICS economic bloc, alongside...

Commonwealth summit: Broken aircraft windscreen aborts Shettima’s trip

Following the damage to the cockpit windscreen of his plane at JFK...