Politico Politico News
The Osun State Election Petition Tribunal has sacked Ademola Adeleke as the state governor and declared Gboyega as the winner of the governorship election.
The tribunal nullified the election of Adeleke, candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
It further ruled Oyetola, candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking a second term in office won the July 16 Osun governorship poll.
Justice Tetsea Kume, while delivering a majority decision declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not comply substantially with the Constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act.
He subsequently deducted the over-voting observed from the votes scored by the candidates and declared that Oyetola won the election, having polled 314, 921, while Adeleke’s score came down to 290, 266.
The judge directed INEC to withdraw Adeleke’s certificate of return and issued another one to Oyetola who won a majority of the lawful votes.
The decision of the judges is being read at the time of filing this report.
It will be recalled that INEC on Sunday, July 17 declared PDP candidate Adeleke as the winner of the Osun State governorship election.
Reacting to the verdict, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke,in a statement signed by his spokesman, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, described it as a miscarriage of justice.
The statement read: “The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has described the judgement of the governorship tribunal as ” a miscarriage of justice”, vowing to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
“Reacting to the verdict of the Tribunal from his country home, Ede, Governor Adeleke faulted the resolution of the over-voting question in favour of Mr Oyetola, calling it “an unfair interpretation against the will of majority of voters”
“While urging his supporters to remain calm, Governor Adeleke vowed to appeal the judgement at the Court of Appeal, insisting he remains the rightful winner of the July 16 election.
“I call on our people to remain calm. We will appeal the judgement and we are sure justice will be done. Let our people be reassured that we will do everything possible to retain this widely acclaimed mandate”, Governor Adeleke declared.”
