Aregbesola, Omisore Counsels Entangle Over Voting Materials

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News, Politics Tuesday, September 9th, 2014

Funmilayo Omidiji/Oyewale Oyelola

A physical combat between counsels to Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the state People’s Democratic Party (PDP) August 9, governorship election flagbearer, Senator Iyiola Omisore, was averted Tuesday, as both quarreled over the listing of exhibits in the hearing of petition filed by Omisore before the state Election Petition Tribunal.

The Tribunal has earlier granted the prayer by the petitioner that the election materials used for the poll be inspected by the counsels in the Osogbo office of the state’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) .

Trouble started when Counsel to Governor Aregebesola, Mr. Daud Akinloye, objected to a request by Omisore’s Counsel, Mr. Kehinde Adesiyan, to allow PDP agents make photocopies of some materials, maintaining instead, it was the task for the INEC officials. Similarly, Akinlioye held that it was INEC responsibility to make available to the petitioner and others, the certified true copies of the voting materials.

However, after the request was granted, the Governor’s Lawyer, demanded the order obtained from the tribunal for the inspection should be produced and ‘Exhibit A’ listed should also be produced.

This was opposed by Omisore’s Counsel, a situation that resulted to an attempt by both to entangle with each other. The scuffle which involved exchange of many vulgar verbal utterances was however averted by quick intervention of the INEC head of Operations, Mr. Azeez Olatunji as well as its Counsel, Mr. Wuyep Ishaku.