Senator Smart Adeyemi, governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, explained why he rejected the outcome of the primary that produced Usman Ododo as candidate and headed for the Supreme Court. He spoke during an interview with the Channels.
Campaigns for the November 11 governorship poll in Kogi State are being intensified by participating political parties. But, cracks in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have not been mended.
An aspirant, Senator Smart Adeyemi, is contesting the outcome of the primary that produced Usman Ododo as candidate.
At the Appeal Court, Ododo’s victory was affirmed. But dissatisfied, Adeyemi has gone to the Supreme Court on appeal.
His complaint is that out of 239 wards in Kogi, only the results of 11 wards were announced after the primary.
In his view, that approach was wrong and contrary to the electoral law, which stipulated that the shadow poll should be based on ‘ward by ward’ and not local government.
To Adeyemi, the ruling of the apex court will be a case law and it will be final.
Besides, he said the primary should be viewed from the perception that the Chairman of Kogi State Primary Election, Mohammed Bello Matawale left the state before the primary took place and his action was against the APC guideline.
To the APC, the primary has been won and lost. But, Adeyemi disagreed, saying that the court has to make the final pronouncement.
He said: “If you know my background, you will appreciate why I have tenacity of purpose in whatever I am doing. I was lucky to be in the Senate when the Electoral Act 2022 was amended.
Read Also: NLC, TUC petition governor over murder of head teacher, teacher
“The hallmark of democracy is the legislature. The National Assembly is the symbol of democracy. It distinguishes the military government from the civilian government. It is the livewire of democracy.
“The laws that were made by that institution should be seen to the interpreted as it was provided. And you dont have to be a lawyer to appreciate when you are guilty or you are at fault. The audacity I have is that I was part of those who drafted the law.”
Adeyemi, former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), said he decided to appeal to the Supreme Court to test the efficacy of the law in a court that can guarantee justice.
He said: “The 2022 Electoral Act says direct primary should be conducted ward by ward. That is number one provision. Not local government headquarter. In my ward, we have about 2,000 members in my community, which happens to be local government headquarter and ward headquarter.”
The aspirant said he had stuck to his decision to pursue the matter to a logical conclusion, and without any sentiment.”
Adeyemi added: “The chairman of the panel left at the time they were to conduct the election. In Kogi State, we have 239 wards. What is before their lordships are the results of 11 wards, out of 239 wards.
“I went to the apex court because it is not only a court of law, but a court of justice. If the Supreme Court pronounces that the results of 11 wards are superior to the results of 239 wards, that is the final. You cannot put anything on nothing. It was long settled by Lord Denning.
“A judge said the electoral process is a pyramid. The foundation must first be laid. At the presidential tribunal where the PDP and LP alleged that there was malpractices, the tribunal said they did not bring the results to justify their allegations, they only submitted 11 wards from Koto Kalfe.”
In Adeyemi’s view, politics has rules and politicians should learn to play by the rules. “There is no conscience in Nigeria. Your religion is your conscience. Unfortunately in Nigeria, when people commit atrocities, when they want to embezzle money, they forget religion. They connive and embezzle money. They forget justice.,” he fumed.
Rejecting the verdict of the lower court, Adeyemi said: “We are talking about 239 results. They presented the result of 11 wards. Where on earth can that pass the true test of justice? We are not talking about local government election. It is a state election. And out of 239 wards, you came with 11 to court.
“We are now before the Supreme Court, and whenever it makes its pronouncement, it becomes a case law. If the Supreme Court supports the earlier judgment, it means it has set up a new law, a case law.
If I win, it is not true that the government and the party will not back me. When you are in government, everybody is with you, whether you are doing good or bad.”
Adeyemi acknowledged the bond of friendship between him and the state party leader, Governor Yahaya Bello, before the primary. He described the relationship as give and take. He acknowledged that although he savoured his gesture when he wanted to return to the Senate, he also served as his campaign manager during his re-election bid.
“I was the Director General of his campaign for reelection. It was Kogi West and Kogi Central that voted en mass for Yahaya Bello to emerge victorious,” he stressed.
Supporters of Ododo have chided Adeyemi as a bad loser. But, he rejected the label, saying that as an educated person, he has the right to challenge the results in court.
Is the senator not also working against the interest of the party by taking the platform to court?
Adeyemi said:” I am still in APC. Have you seen me criticizing my party or government? This is a democratic government. We are not in a military regime. We have the right to seek for justice.
“Democracy is not about keeping queit when they put sand in your mouth. When you are a leader,, what makes you a leader is to surmount what others cannot do.
“Martin Luther King Jr said the measure of a man is not where he stands in time of comfort and convenience, but in times of challenge and controversy. That is what defines a man.”
Adeyemi also believes that the National Party Leader, President Bola Tinubu, understands his opinion on the matter.
“The president will not ask me not to fight for my right or not to go to court.He will not do that. The president is too busy to participate in all these. The party is there. The chairman of the party knows all these things,” he said.
Adeyemi said he stands for zoning and power shift, pointing out that Kogi West, his native district, has been marginalised.
His words: “This is not a personal case. In the last 32 years, Kogi West has not produced a governor. We are among the most educated people in the Northern Nigeria we are not illiterates. I am fighting the cause of my people. Ebira people have produced governor twice.”