The member representing Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rita Orji (PDP, Lagos) has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare her winner of the February 23 National Assembly election in the area.
Orji, who made the call at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, was reacting to yesterday’s judgment by Justice Bello Kawo-led Federal High Court, Abuja, which ruled out a re-run, and ordered INEC to declare collated results of all polling units in the Federal Constituency.
“I want to thank the judiciary for coming to the aid of Nigeria’s democracy. I also want to thank INEC for upholding the sanctity of the Electoral Act in good faith.
“Ajreomi/Ifelodun gave me a wonderful support, just like in 2015. I won clearly in 7 Wards; in the 8th ward, results of some PUs were illegally cancelled.
“But Justice Bello Kawo of Federal High Court Abuja, has ruled that it is illegal to cancel results that are already collated and announced. Besides, allegations of violence or faulty card readers are unfounded.
“Since I was leading with over 11,000 votes until the process was interrupted, I want INEC to declare me winner of the election,” Orji said.
The Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora, warned that she would not accept results that do not tally with the ones announced cross polling units, copies of which were signed by her party agents.
She wondered why the All Progressives Congress (APC) would be calling for a re-run when the results are already in the custody of INEC, saying the demand was an attempt to subvert the will of the people of Ajeromi/Ifelodun.”
Recall that INEC had declared the February 23 National Assembly election in Ajeromi/Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Lagos State inconclusive, citing violence and voter intimidation.
But Orji, an incumbent lawmaker and candidate of the PDP, had approached a Federal High Court sitting in Kubwa, Abuja, praying to be declared winner of the election.
Kolawole Taiwo, candidate of the APC in the disputed election could not be reached for comments over the court decision that the election results be declared across polling units.
