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.

source PMnews