- Tribunal declares former Gov Oyetola winner of Osun Guber poll
- Says Oyetola got 314,921 votes to Adeleke’s 290,266 votes
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has rejected the Governorship tribunal’s judgment that removed him from office, describing it ”a miscarriage of justice”
Consequently, he is heading for the Court of Appeal to seek justice, maintaining that the Tribunal’s position on over-voting is ”an unfair interpretation against the will of majority of voters”.
Governor Adeleke, who spoke from his country home in Ede, said; “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”.
In sacking Senator Adeleke as Osun State Governor, the Election Petition Tribunal affirmed the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola as the winner of the 16 July 2022 governorship election in the State.
The Tribunal, which heard Oyetola’s petition against Adeleke’s victory declared on Friday through its Chairman, Justice Tertse Kume that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not comply substantially with the Constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act.
To arrive at their decision, the Tribunal, in split decision of two to one, 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.
Accordingly, it ordered the electoral umpire, INEC to withdraw Adeleke’s certificate of return and issue a new one to Oyetola as the rightful winner of the said election.
However, as at press time, the minority judgment of the Tribunal was still being delivered
Below is the full statement by Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the Governor: “Governor Adeleke Rejects Tribunal Verdict, Heads to Appeal Court”
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.
Signed:
Mallam Olawale Rasheed
Spokesperson to the Executive Governor
