Supreme Court upholds Gov. Olusegun Mimiko’s election

The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and dismissed the appeals by Rotimi Akeredolu of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Olusola Oke of Peoples Democratic Party.

Justice Walter Ononghen, who led six other justices on the proceedings, had reserved their ruling and fixed judgment for August 29 after counsel to the parties in the case adopted their addresses.

Messrs Akeredolu and Oke had challenged the October 20, 2012 re-election of Mr. Mimiko of the Labour party (LP).

Mr. Akeredolu had prayed an order for a re-run election, while Mr. Oke sought for his declaration as governor.

They claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conspired with Mr. Mimiko to illegally add more than 90,000 fake voters in the voter register used for the election.

They further alleged that INEC failed to display the voter register before the election as mandated by the Electoral Act.

They said the election ought not to have been held as the processes leading to casting of votes were beclouded with `fraudulent’ actions.

The Akure Division of the Court of Appeal on July 2 dismissed the two appeals, and upheld Mr. Mimiko’s election.

The duo had filed separate appeals before the appellate court against the judgment of the Election Petitions Tribunal that had earlier dismissed their petitions.

The court held that the appellants failed to prove the allegations of substantial non-compliance of the 2012 election with Electoral Act 2010 as amended beyond reasonable doubt.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the appellate Court, Messrs Akeredolu and Oke approached the Supreme Court for what they called “further and better interpretation of the issues raised’’.