BREAKING NEWS!....Tribunal strikes out Omisore’s petition, uphelds Aregbesola’s victory

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.
Firstclassnewsline.net
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.
Firstclassnewsline.net