Encomium
It is not yet uhuru for the incumbent governor of Ogun state, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun as the legal battle instituted against him by the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the last general election; Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka has taken a new dimension.
Prince Isiaka has appealed against the judgment of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal that upheld the election of Senator Ibikunle Amosun for second term.
Amosun, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner of the April 11 governorship poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Isiaka, in his reaction to the tribunal’s verdict, urged his supporters to respect the decision of the court and remain law abiding.
He said, “I am appealing to all and sundry to respect the decision of the court. Though the verdict did not go the way that would have gladdened the heart of many people in the state, as law-abiding and responsible citizens, we are duty bound to respect the verdict.
“We shall carefully study the judgement as soon as possible and will make public our next line of action. But my appeal goes to all our supporters and those that might have been disappointed with the judgement to remain calm, we still have many options available to us but that decision will be made very soon.
“This struggle is not about me but the battle to liberate Ogun state from regression and also utilise its potentials to make it great; therefore, this cause is not worth the blood of any man or woman.”
ENCOMIUM Weekly however gathered that the suit challenging the tribunal’s verdict was filed at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, on Tuesday, November 10, 2015.
In the notice of appeal, Amosun and INEC were listed as respondents.
The Ogun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta had on October 23, dismissed Isiaka’s petition and upheld Amosun’s election.
The Justice Henry Olusiyi-led tribunal had struck out the petition, arguing that the petitioners did not support their allegation of massive rigging and electoral malpractices in the election with enough evidence.
Isiaka had expressed dissatisfaction with the tribunal’s decision and sought an order allowing the appeal and setting aside the previous judgement.
The appellants also sought an order granting the reliefs sought in the petition by the petitioners/appellants.
The governorship candidate and his party said the tribunal erred in law to hold that they alleged several irregularities in nine local government areas but led oral evidence only in 12 polling units.
The suit read in part, “The tribunal failed to consider the statement on oath of PW9 and the report of inspection of electoral materials containing the instances of irregularities in the polling units contained in the nine local government areas, prepared by PW9 and his team received in evidence as Exhibit P4275.
“The tribunal failed to consider submissions of appellants’ counsel (including the chart based on Exhibit P4275) filed before the honourable tribunal.”
