Osun State Election Tribunal upholds Governor Rauf Aregbesola's election as governor

The Osun State Election Tribunal lead judge, Justice Elizabeth Ipejime ruled against gubernatorial candidate Iyiola Omisore’s petition, which alleged that Governor Aregbesola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) won due to electoral manipulation.

Osun state governorship election petition tribunal has upheld the re-election of Rauf Aregbesola as governor of the state. Senator Iyiola Omisore, the PDP candidate at the August 9th 2014 election had petitioned the tribunal over claims that the election was rigged in favor of the Governor.

At its sitting in the state today February 6th, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Elizabeth Ipejime, said the witnesses brought in by Senator Omisore did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that the elections were rigged in favor of the governor.

"The testimonies of these witnesses are unsatisfactory and PDP forensic analyst did not show that ballot papers were not used accordingly. As such, their testimonies failed to support their claims. None of them gave evidence on the issue of multiple voting, which they earlier claimed. The panel also held that issue of multiple voting was not found in his examination. On allegations of over-voting, no single evidence of over voting was proved. Similarly, on the allegations that O’Yes was used as INEC officials, there is no such evidence.”Justice Ipejime said.

 The Osun State Election Tribunal lead judge, Justice Elizabeth Ipejime ruled against gubernatorial candidate Iyiola Omisore’s petition, which alleged that Governor Aregbesola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) won due to electoral manipulation.

Ajibola Basiru, a commentator following the Tribunal from inside the courtroom, announced on social media that “the petitioners [were ruled to] have failed to lead relevant, credible and cogent evidence in support of the petition.” This ruling confirms the election of Governor Aregbesola as legitimate, and that all petitions by Omisore and the PDP were dismissed.
This ruling comes one day after Sahara Reporters exclusively reported that Omisore was involved in manipulating the gubernatorial elections for PDP in Ekiti State, and intended to do the same for himself in Osun State.