From Tunji Omofoye,Osogbo
PDP Panel Disqualifies Omisore From Osun East Senatorial Contest
THE senatorial ambition of Senator Iyiola Omisore, Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation may have suffered a setback as the Electoral Appeal Panel set up by the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) disqualified him from the re-run senatorial race in Osun State.
Also, a retrial Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo has nullified the election of the Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Adejare Bello.
Shock gripped the entire courtroom when the tribunal nullified Bello's seat, which he had occupied for almost two terms.
The appeal panel had ordered for fresh primaries in Osun East Senatorial District following a petition filed by one of the aspirants who participated in the recently concluded primaries, Prince Francis Fadahunsi.
Omisore was declared winner during the primaries. According to the panel, Omisore was disqualified on the ground that he did not actually vie for the Osun East Senatorial race, but governorship seat in the state.
The PDP Panel while giving its report on a petition filed by Fadahunsi ordered a re-run of the primaries in Osun East and at the same time barred Senator Omisore from contesting in the re-run poll.
In the report of the panel dated January 27, 2011 addressed to the Acting National Chairman of PDP and jointly signed by Ugwu Chinonso and Nasir Chakis, Chairman and Secretary of the PDP Electoral Appeal Panel respectively, the party cancelled the results of the primary election held at Ilesa Grammar School on January 7, 2011 due to alleged misleading of delegates, intimidation and thuggery.
The Panel held that Chief Fasasi Atoferu, the Senatorial leader for Osun East Senatorial District, acting in conjunction with Senator Omisore misled the delegates by directing them to Oluorogbo Grammar School, Ile-Ife instead of Ilesa Grammar School.
"There was frequently repeated radio announcement that the primary election will be held at Oluorogbo Grammar School, which genuinely misled many voters, many people also gave evidence before the panel that they were held hostage and prevented from voting'', the report read.
"Although, while addressing the Panel, Senator Omisore did not refute his governorship bid nor the radio announcement and other affiliated complaints by Fadahunsi, his clearance certificate was not also presented or tendered to the Primaries.
The panel said, "Senator Iyiola Omisore did not show up nor express intention to contest for Osun East Senatorial District. He is hereby disqualified from participating in the re-ordered party primaries."
"The PDP Primary for Osun East Senatorial District held on January 7, 2011 is cancelled forthwith. Another fresh election for Osun East Senatorial District is hereby ordered", the report said.
The Panel noted that it called Omisore to testify adding the senator did not refute the allegation but only stated his position as a party leader who wanted something good for the party.
The panel said the evidence before it shows that Omisore vied for Osun State Governor seat and not Osun East Senatorial seat. The sitting venue of the appeal panel was the PDP party secretariat, Osogbo, Osun State. The panel physically saw the posters and banners of Senator Omisore for governor of Osun State.
The report was copied to PDP Chairman, Osun State, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), the state Police Commissioner, Director of State Security Service (SSS) in Osun, Senator Omisore and Fadahunsi.
In another development, the election tribunal led by Justice Patrick Elechi, in its judgment, held that election into the state house of assembly held on April 14, 2007 was marred by violence, multiple voting and over-voting.
Arising from these findings, the tribunal declared the declaration of Adejare Bello null and void and ordered that a rerun election be conducted within 30 days.
Bello, who had been heading the Osun State Parliament since the 2007 poll as the Speaker was representing Ede-North State Constituency, and had been in the saddle as Speaker since 2003.
Alhaji Kamordeen Akanbi , the candidate of the Action Congress (AC) had approached the Justice Thomas Naron-led Tribunal, with a petition challenging the propriety of Bello's election with majority of lawful votes.
While the first tribunal struck out Akanbi's petition, the petitioner headed for the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, where the decision of the lower tribunal was set aside for miscarriage of justice and a retrial was ordered.
In its ruling yesterday, Justice Elechi held that the petitioner had proved the allegation of irregularities and election malpractices and nullified Bello's election.
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