Rauf Aregbesola
Encyclopedia
Engineer Rauf Aregbesola (born 25 May 1957) is a Nigeria
n politician who ran for governor of Osun State
in the 2007 elections.
Although the People's Democratic Party
(PDP) candidate Olagunsoye Oyinlola was declared the winner, Aregbesola appealed the decision and on 26 November 2010 was declared the winner.
Aregbesola was formerly an activist.
He was Lagos Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure when he ran for election in April 2007 on the Action Congress platform.
In May 2008, Aregbesola called over 100 witnesses and tendered 168 exhibits in his petition before the Election Petitions Tribunal,
alleging violence and ballot boxes stuffing in the election.
In an October 2008 interview, he described Oyinlola as "a bully who came from a reactionary military arm", stating that Oyinlola had done nothing for the people of Osun state. He also claimed that 12 people had died in the election violence.
In August 2009 the police arrested Aregbesola, apparently for involvement in the alleged forgery of a police report on the conduct of the elections.
Later that month he sought bail so that he could perform the lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
In August 2010 the police summoned him to make a statement about a 14 June 2007 bomb explosion near the ministry of water resources.
Aregbesola denied any involvement, stating that he was in Abuja
at the time.
Justices of the Federal Appeal Court, Ibadan finally declared Aregbesola the winner of the 2007 election, ordering that he be sworn in as governor by noon on 27 November 2010.
The Governor of Edo State
, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole
, offered his congratulations for the belated recognition of his election victory.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n politician who ran for governor of Osun State
Osun State
Ọṣun State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria. Its capital is Osogbo. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east partly by Ekiti State and partly by Ondo State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west by Oyo State. The state's current governor is Rauf Aregbesola, who was...
in the 2007 elections.
Although the People's Democratic Party
People's Democratic Party (Nigeria)
The People's Democratic Party is a political party in Nigeria. Its policies generally lie towards the right wing of the political spectrum. It has won every single Presidential elections since 1999, namely: 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011, and is the dominant party in the Fourth Republic.-History:In...
(PDP) candidate Olagunsoye Oyinlola was declared the winner, Aregbesola appealed the decision and on 26 November 2010 was declared the winner.
Aregbesola was formerly an activist.
He was Lagos Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure when he ran for election in April 2007 on the Action Congress platform.
In May 2008, Aregbesola called over 100 witnesses and tendered 168 exhibits in his petition before the Election Petitions Tribunal,
alleging violence and ballot boxes stuffing in the election.
In an October 2008 interview, he described Oyinlola as "a bully who came from a reactionary military arm", stating that Oyinlola had done nothing for the people of Osun state. He also claimed that 12 people had died in the election violence.
In August 2009 the police arrested Aregbesola, apparently for involvement in the alleged forgery of a police report on the conduct of the elections.
Later that month he sought bail so that he could perform the lesser Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
In August 2010 the police summoned him to make a statement about a 14 June 2007 bomb explosion near the ministry of water resources.
Aregbesola denied any involvement, stating that he was in Abuja
Abuja
Abuja is the capital city of Nigeria. It is located in the centre of Nigeria, within the Federal Capital Territory . Abuja is a planned city, and was built mainly in the 1980s. It officially became Nigeria's capital on 12 December 1991, replacing Lagos...
at the time.
Justices of the Federal Appeal Court, Ibadan finally declared Aregbesola the winner of the 2007 election, ordering that he be sworn in as governor by noon on 27 November 2010.
The Governor of Edo State
Edo State
Edo State is an inland state in central southern Nigeria. Its capital is Benin City. It is bounded in the north and east by Kogi State, in the south by Delta State and in the west by Ondo State.-History:...
, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole
Adams Oshiomhole
Adams Aliyu Eric Oshiomhole is a labor leader who ran for Governor of Edo State in Nigeria in April 2007 on the Action Congress platform. The election was flawed...
, offered his congratulations for the belated recognition of his election victory.