Osun tribunal admits disputed election results in evidence The Election Petitions Tribunal hearing matters arising from Osun State governorship election has admitted in evidence election results from disputed local government areas tendered by the petitioner, Senator Iyiola Omisore. Omisore, who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party during the August 9, 2014 poll, is challenging the victory of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress at the tribunal. Chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, admitted the result sheets in evidence and marked them as exhibits before the panel. The petitioner’s counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon, SAN, on Wednesday sought to tender the certified true copies of forms EC8A from the disputed polling units. The counsel tendered the results after they had been sorted and verified by counsels. The disputed local government areas whose results were tendered by the petitioner are, Osogbo, Olorunda, Ede North, Ede South, Ejigbo, Ifelodun, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Irewole, Iwo, Obokun, Irepodun, Atakumosa East, Ayedaade, Boripe, Ola-Oluwa and Oriade. The petitioner had on Tuesday evening tendered the results from four disputed local government areas and he completed tendering forms EC8A from the remaining 13 local government councils when the tribunal resumed hearing on Wednesday. Counsel to the first respondent (Aregbesola), Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN, raised an objection to the admissibility of the documents, saying, however, that he would adduce reasons for his objections to the document at the written address stage. Counsel to the second respondent (the All Progressives Congress), Mr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, also raised objection to the admissibility of the election results. He also told the court that his reasons would be given during the address stage. Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr. Ayotunde Ogunleye, also towed the line of the first and second respondents by telling the tribunal that he would state reasons for his objections at the address stage. Omisore, who was present at the tribunal later told journalists in an interview that he was satisfied with the way the proceedings had been going. He said that he was sure that the tribunal would do justice in the case, saying he had tendered some of the evidence he had to establish that the election was “massively rigged.” Olujinmi also told journalists shortly after the tribunal had adjourned that he decided to reserve his objections to the admissibility of the petitioner’s evidence to the address stage in order to save time and ensure speedy hearing of the petition. Security was beefed up at the tribunal as policemen and operatives of the Department of State Security cordoned off roads leading to the State High Court venue of the tribunal.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 01:20:54 +0000
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