Security was beefed up around the Osun State High Court premises on Friday as Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the All Progressives Congress vice-presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, appeared before the election petitions tribunal hearing matters arising from the August 9 governorship election in the state.
There were more armed security agents at the court and around the court premises on Friday than at the previous sittings. The police as usual closed the road in front of the court to commercial vehicles and motorcycles while private cars with verifiable missions around the area were allowed to move on the road.
Operatives of the Department of State for Security and Explosives Ordinance Department were present to ensure that there was no security breach.
The duo appeared before the Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime-led tribunal on the day which the second respondent, APC, opened its defence in the petition filed by Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party to challenge
The four witnesses called by the APC, however, told the panel that the election was free, fair and credible while being led in evidence by the second respondent’s counsel.
The witnesses insisted that the election was credible during the cross examination by petitioner’s counsel, Mr. Nathaniel Oke.
The panel adjourned sitting till today Saturday for the APC to continue calling its witnesses.
Osinbajo told journalists in an interview after the proceedings that the August 9 governorship poll was credible.
He said, “We called all of the witnesses we wanted to call and they all performed well. We hope to see clearly that this was a free and fair election and that the APC won the election fair and square. That is what we certainly hope to see.”
Aregbesola said that he was at the tribunal to honour the panel.
He said that he was pleased with the testimonies of all the witnesses called by the second respondent to defend his victory against the petition.
The governor said that he had confidence in the tribunal and he believed that the petition would be dismissed because he won the election.
Aregbesola said, “I am here to honour the court and to fraternise with the vice-presidential candidate of my party. To me, it is the best that could happen in Nigeria now.
“He is a paragon of brilliance when it comes to legal profession. By the time he becomes the vice-president of Nigeria, I will be extremely happy to tell the whole world that I have Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as my lawyer and as the vice-president of Nigeria.”
