Kogi West: Dino Melaye appeals Tribunal judgement

Dino Melaye, lawmaker representing Kogi West at the Senate has appealed the judgement of the National and State Assembly Election Tribunal against him.

The tribunal had recently nullified the election that produced Mr Melaye as representative of the senatorial district at the upper legislative chamber and ordered that a fresh election be conducted.

In the notice of appeal he filed on Monday, Melaye wants the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment.

According to the Nation Newspaper, the appeal dated September 5, 2019, the lawmaker raised 23 grounds of appeal, in which he faulted the majority decision of the tribunal.

He is also seeking an order of the Court of Appeal allowing his appeal and an order sustaining his objection to the petition or dismissing the petition and confirming his electoral victory.

The appeal, which was filed for Melaye by Rickey Tarfa (SAN) listed Senator Smart Adeyemi, All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as respondents.

Among the grounds of appeal include whether the person sued at the Tribunal being Senator Dino Melaye, is the same as the person who contested the poll and declared winner of the election as contained on Form CF001 – Melaye Daniel Dino.

“The provision of the law is that the name as used in Form CF001 is the only valid name that can be used to challenge the election of the Appellant.

“The principle of equity accepted and applied by the majority members of the Tribunal cannot override the provisions of the law in respect of the petition.

“The judgement of the Tribunal was perverse and against the weight of evidence before it,” he said.