Supreme Court Reserves Judgment On Osun Governorship Election Till May 27

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

Mr. Omisore, the Osun governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the August 9, 2014 election, had challenged Mr. 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.

Mr. Omisore’s counsel, 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.

Mr. 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,” he said. “The Tribunal also did not make any finding as it ought to do in respect of the alleged irregularities.”

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

Mr. Olujinmi also urged the court to dismiss the main appeal, arguing, “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.”

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

-NAN