Governorship Election: Supreme Court fixes May 27 for Omisore/Aregbesola judgement

The Supreme Court on Thursday has fixed May 27 for judgment on the appeal filed by Senator Iyiola Omisore, challenging the Court of Appeal’s judgment, affirming Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s election in Osun.

Omisore, the Osun governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the August 9, 2014 election, had challenged Aregbesola’s victory at the Election Petition Tribunal, where he lost.

The apex court panel of justices led by Justice John Fabiyi reserved the judgment following the adoption of the briefs of arguments and written addresses by counsels in the suit.

Omisore’s counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), in his submission, urged the court to set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division and the Governorship Election Tribunal in Osun.

Izinyon also urged the court to nullify the outcome of the governorship election, arguing that the election was fraught with irregularities.

"The tribunal identified the irregularities which marred the election but failed to pronounce on it in its decision.

"The Tribunal also did not make any finding as it ought to do in respect of the alleged irregularities,’’ Izinyon argued.

Also, Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), Counsel to Aregbesola, while adopting his brief of arguments and written address, urged the court to dismiss the appeal and allow his cross-appeal.

Olujinmi also urged the court to dismiss the main appeal, arguing thus: "Out of the 43 witnesses who testified at the tribunal only seven witnesses were party agents.

"The rest who claimed to be supervisors gave 'hear say' evidences and agreed at the tribunal that the entering they made in the result sheets were false,’’ Olujinmi said.

Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and Adegboyinga Awomolo (SAN), Counsel to APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) respectively, also urged the court to dismiss the appeal and allow the cross-appeal.