Justice Elizabeth Ipejime on Friday at the High Court in Osogbo declared Osun state governor, Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress winner of the election tribunal.
Aregbesola had defeated PDP’s Senator Iyiola Omisore during the polls with 392, 284 votes to 292, 742 votes but the results were contested by Omisore and the Peoples Democratic Party.
In the judgment, lasting over seven hours, the tribunal dismissed the prayers of the petitioner, alleging malpractices and substantial non-compliance of the poll with the Electoral Act as amended.
The petition was dismissed in a unanimous judgment, which started at 9.10am and concluded by 4.38pm, read by tribunal chairman, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime.
The judgment was read amidst heavy presence of security men at the court premises.
The tribunal held that Aregbesola, who scored 394,684 votes credited to him by INEC, was validly elected and returned as the winner of the poll.
Omisore scored 292,747.
Three issues were formulated for determination by the tribunal.
The first issues was whether the tribunal has jurisdiction to hear the petitioner’s petition.
The second issue for determination was whether the election was vitiated by the reason of alleged substantial non compliance with the Electoral Act and the third issue was whether the first respondent ( Aregbesola) was validly elected and returned as the winner of the poll.
The first issue of jurisdiction, which the first respondent complained against in an application, was resolved against him.
The only issue, which was resolved in favour of the petitioner, which allowed his petition to scale the first hurdle put against it by the first respondent, did not avail him of victory at the end as the tribunal went ahead to expose the weaknesses in the allegations contained in his petition.
On the issue of substantial non compliance, the tribunal resolved the issue against the petitioner. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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The peace of God that passeth all understanding then descended on the State of Osun. Forward ever and backward never.
ReplyDeleteWhr dd u hear d news, we are still in court.stop dis propaganda
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