It was like different strokes for different states
earlier today as the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan
delivered judgments on the 2007 gubernatorial
polls for two states.The states are Osun and Ogun .
In the very combustible case of Osun State, the Appeal court ordered
fresh trial for the gubernatorial election .The
Appeal court noted that the lower Court acted
in error by spurning some evidences earlier tendered
before it.That was seen as leading to some sort of
miscarriage of justice.Thus, the court ordered
that the election Tribunal be reconstituted to
ensure a retrial of the case.
This judgment raises hope for Rauf Aregbesola of
AC who has been challenging the election of
Olagunsoye Oyinlola of PDP whom INEC declared
as the winner of the 2007 polls.After the verdict
today, Aregbesola urged his supporters to remain
calm.This may be a reference to the tension which
preceded the ruling.He is hopeful that he will
ultimately triumph and that his tenure will
commence anytime he is sworn in.
In another ruling , the court of Appeal dismissed
the appeal filed by Dipo Dina of AC against
the election of Governor Gbenga Daniel of Ogun
state. The case was dismissed for lack of merit The
Court awarded a fine
of N50,000 Daniel.With this verdict, it is believed
that Governor Daniel who has been in the eye
of the storm, will now dig in as he battles on
another front to avert alleged plot to impeach him
by the state House of Assembly . Daniel
Jubilates The Ogun State Governor , Otunba
Gbenga Daniel, has described the unanimous judgment
of the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan affirming
his electoral victory in the case filed by Otunba
Dipo Dina of the Action Congress as an endorsement
of the mandate freely given by the people of Ogun
State on April 14 2007. The Governor made the remark
in a statement issued in Abeokuta and signed by his
Chief Press
Secretary, Adegbenro Adebanjo shortly after the
judgment. “Once again the judiciary has
shown itself to be the unbiased umpire in our
electoral processes. We thank God for the
reaffirmation of the mandate of the people of Ogun
State which we hold in trust. This victory will
further spur us to consolidate on the delivery of
more dividends of good governance, that our
administration is noted, for to the people. We
consider this judgment a victory for the good people
of Ogun State who have stood resolutely with us as
we step up the implementation of programmes ,
projects and policies that have led to the
transformation of our state. Our doors are open to
all men and women of goodwill who want to rise above
politics and are genuinely interested in working for
the greater glory of Ogun State,''the Governor said
in the statement
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