Godwin Irikefe, Abuja
April 24, 2015 – Over 131 lawyers including two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), Messrs. Ricky Terfa and Femi Falana, and civil rights activist, Mr. Festus Keyamo have offered to represent Senator-elect for Kogi West Senatorial District, Otunba Dino Melaye in court without receiving a kobo for their services.
Melaye who contested the 2015 election under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) defeated his counterpart, Senator Smart Adeyemi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking to journalists after receiving his certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Melaye said he will beat Adeyemi silly even if election is conducted 100 times.
“This is not a matter of boast, I have defeated him and I will also defeat him, even if election is conducted 100 times, provided the election is free and fair. Over 131 lawyers including two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) such as Ricky Terfa, Femi Falana and Festus Keyamo have offered to give me free legal services (pro bono).”
Adeyemi has filed his objections to result declared by INEC at National Assembly Petitions Tribunal sitting in Lokoja, citing alleged irregularities in the conduct of the election as well as results declared by INEC, on March 28, 2015.
In the petition filed by his counsel, Mr. J.O. Olatoke (SAN), Adeyemi said that Melaye was not duly elected or returned by the majority of lawful votes cast during the election adding that he (Adeyemi) should be declared the winner.
According to the petitioner, Melaye was declared winner because of wrong and/or incorrect computation of lawful votes cast and intentional omission of collating results of the polling units won by the petitioners and counting of spoilt ballots in his favour.
