The Kwara State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the leadership of the Kwara State House of Assembly over its refusal to welcome and swear in Hon. Abdulraheem Jimoh Agboola.
Agboola, a member of the PDP was recently declared winner of the Ilorin South State constituency election by the Court of Appeal, thereby unseating Abdulazeez Elewu of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Consequently, he was last week, presented Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
However, Agboola has, on three different occasions, been denied entry into the Assembly complex for documentation and swearing-in despite presenting his Certificate of Return. He was reportedly locked out on the order of the Speaker, Yakubu Danladi.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its State Chairman, Hon. (Engr.) Kola Shittu, the Kwara PDP described the action of the leadership of the Assembly as a wilful disobedience of court order and sheer abuse of power, which it said is typical of the APC.
“Nigerians are aware of the several court rulings the APC-led Federal Government has disobeyed in recent times. We are, therefore, not suprised by the unlawful actions of the leadership of the Kwara Assembly. Flouting of court orders is the forte of the APC.
“On the excuse given by the House that it received a court summon restraining it from swearing in Agboola pending determination of the case, the Kwara PDP views the excuse as unreasonable, untenable, laughable and embarrassing.
“It is a public knowledge that the Court of Appeal is the final arbiter for all litigations arising from National and State Assembly elections. To this end, the judgement of the Appeal Court declaring Agboola as winner of Ilorin South constituency election cannot be appealed nor can there be any stay of execution of the court order.
“It is uncalled for and more embarrassing that the legislature that ought to be promoting the rule of law is the one treating valid court judgement with disdain.
“We, therefore, ask the leadership of the Kwara State House of Assembly to respect the rule of law by admitting and swearing in Hon. Abdulraheem Agboola Jimoh as the duly elected representative of Ilorin South State constituency in the Assembly.
“The PDP notes that wilful disobedience of court order by the leadership of Kwara Assembly amounts to recklessness and contempt of court, which undermines our judicial system and the sanctity of our constitution.
