Omisore rejects Osun gov poll results, heads for election tribunal •APC files motion to inspect forensic materials used for Aug 9 poll

Omisore rejects Osun gov poll results, heads for election tribunal today •APC files motion to inspect forensic materials used for Aug 9 poll

EIGHTEEN days after the conduct of August 9 governorship poll in Osun State, the standardbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the exercise, Senator Iyiola Omisore, on Tuesday, finally concluded that the processes leading to the outcome of the election were “marred with massive irregularities and monumental fraud, allegedly perpetrated by the All Progressives Congress (APC).”

He affirmed that his team of legal luminaries would today formally file a petition at the election petition tribunal sitting at the premises of the state High Court in Osogbo, to challenge what he termed “brazen attempt to subvert the wishes of the electorate, who came out to vote for his candidature at the recently concluded governorship poll.”

The incumbent governor, Rauf Aregbesola, who was also the standardbearer of the APC during poll, won the election by polling 394,684 votes to defeat Omisore, who secured 292, 747 votes.

However, Omisore, in a press statement, authorised by his media aide, Mr Victor Oriola, that “after a comprehensive review of the processes leading to the announced outcome of the August 9 governorship election in Osun State, we are convinced that there were massive irregularities and monumental fraud perpetrated by the APC in the state.”

According to the statement, “we have decided to challenge this brazen attempt to subvert the wishes of the electorate, who came out to support our rescue mission campaign and PDP governorship candidate at the election tribunal as provided for by the constitution and electoral laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

While expressing optimism that electoral victory of Aregbesola would be upturned at the tribunal, Omisore contended that “in our effort, we are mindful of the massive investment in deceit-driven propaganda unleashed on the citizens of Osun State by the APC.”

Meanwhile, against the backdrop of plan by Senator Omisore to file petition, challenging the result of the August 9 governorship election today, the APC has approached the election tribunal, seeking its reliefs to inspect forensic materials used during the electoral process.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the party was also seeking, among other reliefs, to inspect, make copies and conduct manual and forensic examination of all electoral materials used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the election.

The APC, through its lawyers, including its national legal adviser, Dr Muiz Banire, Kunle Adegoke, AbdulRahman Okunade and M A Okunade, are also seeking the order of the tribunal to allow the exparte motion be conducted outside the pre-hearing session of the matter.

It also prayed the tribunal panel to permit its agents, for purpose of defending the petition, to take “certified true copies and conduct manual/physical inspection of all electoral materials to wit, including forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E, EC40A, EC40B, EC40C, EC40F, EC40G, EC25, EC25B (Electoral Material Receipt), EC1A, EC60, INEC list and codes of the polling units, wards and local government areas in Osun State.”

Besides, the party is also requesting for voters’ register of all the electorate in Osun State, Form EC17 (oath/affirmation of neutrality), stubs of ballot papers used, used and unused ballot papers, EC25 series, all forms EC60E, rejected ballot papers, tendered ballot papers, actual ballot papers recorded as spoilt, list of the polling agents in the conduct of the August 9, 2014 in Osun State governorship election, list of all ad hoc staff engaged by the INEC, all polling documents and materials used for the election in the following local government areas.

The local governments are Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Ayedaade, Ayedire, Boluwaduro, Boripe, Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore, Ejigbo, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Ife East, Ifelodun, Ife North, Ife South, Ila, Irepodun, Isokan, Iwo, Obokun, Odo-Otin and Oriade.

The party also urged the tribunal to permit handwriting and forensic expert(s) to conduct an inspection of Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E and all forms and materials used for the conduct of the governorship election in the state in the aforesaid local government areas and others as the tribunal may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

The application to inspect the election materials was supported by a 20-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Abdulrahman Okunade, a legal practitioner, as well as a written address.

However, hearing of the application by APC has been slated for today.