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By Sunday Ani
A community based group passionate about good governance, Amuwo Odofin Youths Renaissance Network, has described the Appeal Court’s virtual judgement of Friday, November 17, 2023, as a calculated attempt to subvert the will of the good people of Amuwo-Odofin state Constituency 2.
Recall that Wale Rauf of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had challenged the victory of Doherty Olukoya David of the Labour Party (LP) in the March 2023 state assembly elections.
A statement yesterday by the group’s spokesperson, Abdulmajeed Oreoluwa, warned that history should not be allowed to repeat itself in Amuwo-Odofin federal constituency.
Part of the statement read: “It is a fact that Doherty Olukoya David of the Labour Party (LP) clearly won the state assembly election to represent Amuwo-Odofin constituency 2, but the recent subterranean moves by powers that be to railroad the temple of justice and steal the peoples mandate must to be stopped.
“I must state that we at Amuwo Odofin, the Youths Renaissance Network are left bemused and in a confused state just like the lawyers in the case. We have observed a clear travesty of justice. In clear terms, we see no reason a virtual judgement will be pronounced in a very ambiguous form, as all cases were merely dismissed.
“At this juncture we will like to raise some posers. Are we in a state of insecurity, an emergency that makes physical sitting of the court impossible to resort to a virtual sitting and keep only the Labour Party faithful in the dark on the set date?
“Why will the case be dismissed on subjective grounds, while merit and objectivity were clearly ignored? Why is the presiding judge, Justice Baba Idris, seemingly partial and clearly taking sides in a case against the people?”
“Speaking from the hindsight of knowledge and history of Amuwo-Odofin politics, we are much aware that Wale Rauf, who is trying hard to claim a mandate he was not given by the people at the poll, has never won an election.
“How can someone who has no grassroots connection with the people and in clear disconnect with the local politics of the place, claim victory through the back door? We will not watch this alleged hatchet job by the judiciary go unchallenged. The youths will rise to the occasion because we are confident that the APC might want to spread their electoral theft cancer to other areas.
“Amuwo-Odofin has been an opposition party front ever since, so the Labour Party should not be railroaded at all in this case. It affirms the obvious that the APC script is to blatantly steal what was rightfully given to the Labour Party.
“We will not keep quiet and watch this injustice and hijack of court proceedings to change things in their favour go unchallenged. The youths of Amuwo-Odofin say no to deliberate thwarting of the people’s will. Shall we say because the lady of the temple is blindfolded, her rape and abuse should continue? The people will rise to defend their mandate.”
