It was a perfect way for Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to start the weekend – with sweet victory, as the Election Petition Tribunal refused to grant the prayer of Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), the defeated Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) candidate in the October 20, 2012 governorship election in the state.

Ruling on Akeredolu’s case late this morning in Akure, the state capital, the tribunal chaired by Justice Andovar Kaka’an declared that an election cannot be nullified unless it is shown that noncompliance with aspects of the provisions of the Electoral Act “substantially affected the result.”

Analysing of petitioner’s witnesses, Kaka’an said: “We therefore find these testimonies as false.”

Akeredolu, who finished third in the ballot behind Mimiko and second-placed Chief Olusola Oke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had challenged Mimiko’s re-elction via a landslide victory, arguing that the elction was not credible.

Hearing on the case ended two days ago, with judgement reserved for today. With this victory, Mimiko, of the Labour Party (LP) has his second term of four years guaranteed except Akeredolu and ACN are able to get the Appeal Tribunal to reverse the verdict.

•Photo shows Governor Mimiko.