Gov. Amosun’s Election Upheld By Appeal Court

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Thursday, December 17th, 2015

By Funmilayo Omidiji

An Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital has upheld the ruling of the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which ruled that the incumbent Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was duly elected in the Saturday, April 11, 2015 poll.

Delivering the judgment of the five-man panel of the appellate court, Justice H.M Ogunjimiju Thursday, held that Amosun’s election was valid and subsequently dismissed the appeal by the candidate of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Adegboyega Isiaka.

It would be recalled the PDP candidate similarly lost to his rival, Governor Amosun in the October 23, 2015 ruling by the lower court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Justice Ogunjimiju held that the Principal witness to the appellant, Mr Benjamin Ibikunle, was not an expert and not credible, as his evidence lacked consistence, thus could not be given any probative value.

The jurists in a unanimous ruling held that the evidence given by the witness, of in view of the shortcomings could not be relied upon by the court, hence thrown it out.

The Chairman of the appellate court submitted that the naivety displayed by Ibikunle justified the argument that he never participated in the inspection exercise of the election materials.

Ruling on another ground of the appeal, Justice Ogunjimiju ruled that there was no evidence to substantiate that the overall number of voters was in excess of the total number of voters accredited.

The jurists ruled that the appeal lacked merit, thereby sustained the ruling of the lower Tribunal which declared that Amosun election substantially complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act.