The Election Petitions Tribunal, hearing cases arising from
the Osun State August 9, 2014 governorship election in the
state, has dismissed the petition of the Peoples Democratic
Party’s candidate in the election, Senator Iyiola Omisore,
challenging the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the
All Progressives Congress.
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.
Source:http://www.punchng.com/news/tribunal-dismisses-omisores-petition-affirms-aregbesolas-victory/