Obanikoro Alleges Plot To Subvert Election Victory

Ibrahim Babajide Obanikoro, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who was declared winner of the October 22, 2011 election into the Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA) by the Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal has raised alarm over intrigue to undermine his victory. Also, Obanikoro said there have been threats to his life through phone calls and the trailing of his private car.

He disclosed this to newsmen at a press briefing in Lagos on  Friday that the adjournment of the case indefinitely was not only unlawful but a calculated attempt to sabotage his mandate by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Obanikoro urged the Chief Justice of Lagos State, Justice O. Philips to stand and defend the judiciary system from abuse, saying: “Any attempt to derail justice by either changing the judges or extending the duration is an infringement on justice and an encouragement to lawlessness and abuse of law.”

His statement read in part: “This press conference was called to draw the public attention to the latest development on the Ikoyi Obalende Development Area election tribunal case at the Lagos State’s Appeal court Igbosere. You will recall that the election tribunal panel led by Justice Dolapo Akinsanya on October 4, 2012 returned our stolen mandate of October 22, 2011. ACN and its candidate, Mr. Wale Adeniji, appealed that decision.

“Two weeks ago the court adjourned to 15th of November (Thursday) for final argument and to announce date of judgment. We arrived in court on Thursday and to our surprise though not unexpected, the secretary of the court announced an adjournment of the case sine die (meaning indefinitely) without reason. In the Nigerian history of election appeal court, this situation will be precedent. There has never been a situation where the court adjourns sine die on an election appeal before hearing the case.

“I will like to state categorically that we are confident of the merit of the case as adjudged by the tribunal panel, we did not seek favours from those courageous judges, we have not sought any in the on going appeal. Again I call on the Chief Justice of our great state; Justice O. Phillips to stand on the right side of history and on the side of Justice.”