Ogun Tribunal Upholds Amosun’s Victory

The Ogun State Election Tribunal, sitting in Abeokuta, the State capital yesterday upheld the victory of Governor Ibikunle Amosun at the Saturday April 11 Governorship election.

The three-man Tribunal led by Justice Henry Olusiyi in an unanimous decision said Amosun scored the highest votes and the votes were valid contrary to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate’s Prince Gboyega Isiaka’s allegation that he got the victory through electoral malpractices, rigging, among others. Amosun stood on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Isiaka had gone to the Tribunal, urging it to declare him winner, arguing among other things that he scored the highest number of valid votes. 

The allegations of Isiaka whose lead counsel was Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN) were that the election was marred by electoral malpractices, fraud, corrupt practices and outright rigging. Lateef Fagbemi led the Amosun’s team of lawyers. He also mentioned snatching of ballot boxes and “importation of voters from foreign location”, among others to include his allegations. Joined in the suit were the defendant’s party (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Isiaka prayed the Tribunal to either declare him winner or order a re-run in nine out of the 20 local councils. The total votes Amosun scored was 306,988 votes as against Isiaka’s 201,124 votes. But the Tribunal dismissed all the allegations of the Petitioner on grounds that he failed to proved any of them with evidence.

Olusiyi who read the four hours 20 minutes Judgement said the petitioner failed woefully to prove his case, explaining that most of their allegations were criminal in nature, “And in criminal cases one has to prove them beyond all reasonable doubt. He said the petitioners failed to do so and agreed with Fagbemi’s argument in his written address that the petitioners evidence to support their allegation was “useless and worthless” and must be dismissed.

Citing Supreme Court judgement to back his assertion, the Tribunal Chairman said “Mere averment without proving a case is deemed abandoned, pleadings do not tantamount to evidence.” The Tribunal said even though the petitioners alleged “several irregularities” in their petition, they led evidence in only 12 polling units. There were 1,672 polling units. Again, the Tribunal agreed that all the nine witnesses called by the petitioners were inconsistent as there were “discrepancies” in their statements during cross-examination, saying some of them depended on “hear say” while giving evidence.