The Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the August 2014 governorship election in Osun State, Iyiola Omisore has described the Tribunal’s ruling dismissing his petition as a momentary setback.
He however, stressed that he would continue to have faith in the nation’s Judiciary while exploring other available avenues to appeal the judgment.
Omisore, in a statement he personally signed enjoined his supporters across the state to remain calm; expressing optimism that he would soon reclaim his “stolen mandate”.
The statement reads in full:
I am constrained to speak again on the judgement of the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal again due to the deliberate mischievous twist being given my initial reaction to the tribunal’s pronouncement and the political activities preceding and succeeding it, by the elements of the ruling party in the state.
“Let me expressly state my abiding faith in the Nigerian judiciary to do justice at all times without fear or favour and the pronouncement of the tribunal though against us, has not shaken that belief, and would not, even if there were no higher courts to review the tribunal’s judgement.
“The preceding political activities of the ruling party in the state hours before the judgement which went in tandem with the party elements’ prediction necessitated the call on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to take another look into the bewildering scenario which was now being interpreted by our opponents as a call for the probe of the judges.
“Going by the laws guiding elections in the country, two layers of appeal are still available unto us, which we are currently exploring.
“As earlier mentioned by our lawyers, we are proceeding to the Court of Appeal and we have total faith in the higher court to dispense justice in the matter.
“Despite my disavowal of the said judgement, I have taken it in good faith since other avenues of seeking redress are open and being explored.
“Contrary to the lies being peddled by elements of the ruling party in Osun state, I hold the judiciary in high esteem and trust in its ability to dispense justice.
“Unlike them, our party is not known for extra-judicial ways of seeking political redress and it is not in our character to denigrate the system when things don’t go our way like they do.
“I call on our supporters to maintain peace and we sustain our pursuit for justice. We believe that it shall not be long before we retrieve our stolen mandate.”
