Encomium
‘It’s not over until it’s over’
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer in the Saturday, August 9, 2014 governorshp election in Osun state, Otunba Iyiola Omisore has vowed not to relent until the dead end of his legal tussle over the victory of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the election, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, is reached.
Speaking with ENCOMIUM Weekly, via his Director of Publicity, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, on Monday, April 6, 2015, the controversial politician expressed dissatisfaction on the ruling of the Appeal Court over the matter. He therefore insisted his mandate was stolen by Aregbesola and won’t give up until the Supreme Court decides on it.
“It’s not yet over until it’s over. Even Aregbesola himself won his election at the Appeal Court. If that could happen, then who tells you Omisore can’t also win at the Supreme Court level?”
“The struggle continues and we believe victory will be ours at the end of it all. So, we can’t give up. And that’s why we have taken the matter to the Supreme Court. We’re sure of victory.
Asked to comment on the victory of General Muhammadu Buhari of APC on the just concluded presidential election, he simply reacted, “We wish him good luck.”
On Thursday, April 2, 2015, the Court of Appeal, sitting in Akure, Ondo state struck out the appeal filed by Omisore, basically on lack of merit.
Justice Gana Mashella who delivered the judgment on behalf of four other judges of the court maintained that the appeal can’t be substantiated.
Omisore had approached the Appellate Court to challenge the ruling of the Osun State Electoral Petitions Tribunal, delivered on Friday, February 6, 2015, which upheld the victory of Governor Aregbesola of APC.
In his appeal, however, Omisore had asked the court to set aside the ruling of the tribunal headed by Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, arguing that it failed to properly examine the issues raised in his petition.
The Ife born politician also premised his agitation on the grounds that the tribunal, in its assessments, failed to evaluate the evidences submitted by him.
Shortly after the election, the former senator had approached the tribunal following his defeat at the poll challenging the results of the election in 17 out of 31 local government areas in the state. He argued that there were gross electoral malpractices in the areas.
However, Omisore’s lead counsel, Mr. Alex Isiyoung (SAN) was reportedly dissatisfied about the ruling. He was said to have argued that the tribunal erred in its ruling, claiming it failed to address passionately all the allegations and issues raised by the petitioner.
