Tribunal upholds Amosun, Jang victory

The Election Petitions Tribunal in Abeokuta on Monday upheld the election of Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun.Amosun was the Action Congress of Nigerias candidate for the election.In a judgement delivered on Monday, the tribunal dismissed the petition brought before it by the governorship candidate for Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Adetunji Olurin.The petition filed in suit NO AEPT/OG/GOV/01/2011 was against Amosuns victory in the April 26 governorship election in the state.Also, the tribunal has affirmed the election of Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang.It dismissed the petition filed by the Labour Party and its candidate, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, against Jangs election in the April 26 governorship poll in the state.Olurin, who had approached the court through his counsel, Chief Olutayo Amoo, in his petition, alleged that there were issues of non-compliance with the Electoral Act.He also prayed the court to declare him as the winner, adding that he polled the majority of the lawful votes cast or in the alternative order a fresh election.Delivering judgment, Justice Bashir Sukola, who headed the three-man panel, said the petitioner failed to prove beyond doubt, the issue of non-compliance with the Electoral Act as related to disenfranchisement by not calling any of the persons said to have been disenfranchised.On whether Amosun had tendered a fake WAEC and degree certificates, Sukola said the burden of proof was on the petitioner.He said the petitioner had not in any way tendered any evidence in support of his claim.He, therefore, dismissed the petition and upheld Amosuns victory.Meanwhile, the Ogun State ACN has applauded the judgment of the petitions tribunal.ACN, in a statement by its state Publicity Sceretary, Alhaji Sola Lawal, described the ruling as a triumph of popular will of the people as against macabre dance of erstwhile usurpers of the peoples mandate.Lawal said, Although the ACN appreciates the right of individuals to seek legal redress in moments of conflict, the move by the petitioners in this particular case was from all intents and purposes meant to distract the Amosun administration.Tallen and LP had gone to court to challenge Jangs victory on the grounds that the election was marred by irregularities and multiple thumb-printing, box-stuffing and snatching, such as under-age voting.e'>Nevertheless, Sylva has denied that he had been screened out of the primaries by the Screening Appeal Panel.
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