20101130
africanews

A new governor was installed amidst cheers from a mammoth crowd in Osun State, south west Nigeria after an appeal court ruled that the sitting governor gathered less votes compared to his main challenger in the 2007 election.

Rauf Aregbesola of the Action Congress of Nigeria [ACN] became the new governor of the state while Olagunsoye Onyilola of the ruling People’s Democratic Party [PDP] who spent three and half years of a second term in office ceases to be governor.

“The first appellant (Aregbesola) having been shown to have scored the majority of lawful votes cast in the election as provided by Section 147(2) of the Electoral Act and having also fulfilled the constitutional requirement of Section 179 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is hereby declared the winner of the gubernatorial election of April 14, 2007 in Osun State,’’ the Tribune quoted Justice Clara Binta Ogunbiyi as saying in her judgment.

The swearing in of Aregbesola on Saturday came less than 2 months after another ACN governor was sworn-in in Ekiti State, south west of the country, following a similar court ruling that declared the then incumbent governor an illegal occupant of the governorship seat.

President Goodluck Jonathan sent a congratulatory message to the new Osun State governor and assured of the full support of the federal government as he performs his duties as governor.

Reacting on his page on facebook, a presidential aspirant and member of ACN Nuhu Ribadu said: "In rejoicing with the great people of Osun at this prospect of good governance and a truly service-oriented administration, I call on us all to keep our eyes on the ball towards next year’s election."