Mimiko: PDP, ACN’s Petitions Dismissed

The Ondo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Akure, the state capital, Friday dismissed the petitions filed by the governorship candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Mr. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Olusola Oke, over the 20 October, 2012 governorship election in the state.

The two candidates and their parties alleged in their petitions that the election which Mimiko won, was marred by irregularities and alleged illegal inclusion of 164,742 voters in the register.

Delivering the judgement, Justice Andovar Kaka’an-led three-man tribunal dismissed all the petitions of the two candidates and their parties, insisting that the witnesses failed to prove their case beyond all reasonable doubts.

On the voter register, the tribunal nullified the expert report on the alleged illegal inclusion of 164,742 voters in the register.

The tribunal averred that the issue of voter register was a purely pre-election matter over which it has no jurisdiction.

Their petitions were subsequently dismissed for lack of merit. It was not clear at press time if the ACN, PDP and the candidates will appeal the verdict.

In his reaction, Gov. Olusegun Mimiko described the verdict a sign of maturity of the nation’s judiciary.

To him, the verdict had confirmed the Nigerian judiciary as the last hope of the masses.

“We, as government, are mindful of the onerous task of meeting the development challenges of our people.

“We know that the fostering of understanding between government and the people will engender a more conducive environment for the deepening of the dividends of good governance. That is why the Labour Party (LP) Government is calling out to opposition party members to partner with us in meeting the expectations of our people.

“LP holds the belief that opposition party politics should be to the constructive engagement of the government in power.
We are urging those opposed to our victory to shed the adversarial toga and join hands with us in building an enviable Ondo State. We are also grateful for their support during the election and for their understanding and faithfulness to the policy thrusts of our government.

“By the grace of God, we shall all live to see a transformed Ondo State whose fortunes shall be irreversibly turned around for the better,” Mimiko said