Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola has hired eight Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) to defend him over the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore

The SANs include Chief Akin Olujinmi , Rotimi Akeredolu, Prof Yemi Osinbayo, Kola Awodein, Femi Falana, Kemi Pinhenro, Segun Ajibola.

The development came just as the Osun state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) State has filed a 257-page reply against the petition of the Omisore on the August 9, governorship election in Osun State.

The APC, which is the second respondent in the petition, also filed written statements of 600 witnesses yesterday.

Omisore is challenging the re-election of Aregbesola, claiming that the election was marred with fraud.

Filing the reply, lead lawyer to the APC, Mr Kunle Adegoke said the respondent, in its reply was asking the tribunal to dismiss the petition of the PDP and its candidate because it is baseless, frivolous and contentious.

He said the reply of the APC contains about 257-page where explanations were offered on the happenings in the local governments being challenged by the PDP.

He said, “We started filling the reply on Saturday; we have about 600 witnesses that we have prepared their witness statements to counter the allegation of the petitioners.

“Our reply is to the effect that the allegation raised by the petitioner are completely frivolous, baseless, vexatious and constitute abuse of court process.

“We are saying they don’t have any business being here, they are only here to waste the precious time of the tribunal and our own precious time too.

“In addition, we are saying there must be punitive cost to be awarded against the petitioners for wasting the time of the court and our own time too”, he added.

Adegoke further noted that the tribunal was further informed in the reply that if not for the vigilance, resoluteness and the preparedness of the electorate that stood firm to say no to rigging, the election would have been rigged by PDP and its candidate.

The APC counsel then noted that if the petitioners are serious, and desirous of driving the petition the way it should be done, the petition would be concluded within the stipulated 180 days.

He noted that steps the petitioners have taken so far do not portend them as people that are serious about the petition.

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