Ondo Gov Election: Tribunal orders recount of votes

Yinka Oladoyinbo, Akure - 13.03.2008

ELECTION Petition Tribunal in Akure, Ondo State, on Wednesday ordered the recount of the used and unused ballot papers for the April 14, 2007 governorship election in the state.

This followed the application of counsel for the petitioner, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), that the tribunal should order the recount of the papers that were used in the areas being contested.

It was at the resumed hearing of the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, against the victory of Governor Olusegun Agagu at the election.

According to Olanipekun, the petitioner had tendered the ballot papers and admitted as exhibits 1076 to 1085, applying that the documents be counted in the presence of the parties to the petition under the supervision of the registrar of the tribunal.

But counsel for the governor, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), opposed the application, saying that there was no basis for the exercise.

He said the petitioner had argued that there was no election in some areas, adding that the ballot papers were no more in the ballot boxes but inside sacks.

Adedipe argued that the documents were already exhibits before the tribunal, urging the Justice Garba Nabaruma-led tribunal to refuse the application.

In the same vein, counsel for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Adebayo Adelodun (SAN), said counting of the ballot papers at this stage of the hearing would be superfluous and should not be allowed.

He added that the ballot papers had already been tampered with several times during the inspection and scanning by the agents of the LP.

The tribunal, in its ruling, said since the prayer would allow the petitioner to prove his case, the application was granted.

Nabaruma, therefore, ordered that the ballot papers be counted in the presence of two representatives of parties to the petition.

Mimiko had earlier in his evidence before the tribunal alleged that election materials were hijacked by suspected thugs and diverted to the residences of PDP chieftains in Okitipupa Local Government Area.

The LP candidate insisted that he won the majority of the lawful vote cast during the election and should have been declared winner.