Osun Guber Poll: Supreme Court Rules July 5
The Supreme Court has fixed Friday, July 5, 2019 to rule on the disputed September 2018 gubernatorial election in Osun State between candidates of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
By their appeal, the PDP and its candidate in the contentious election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, had filed four separate appeals before the apex court challenging the May 9, 2019 majority decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division that affirmed the APC and its candidate, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola as rightful winners of the Osun governorship poll.
According to the Supreme Court, its judgment in the appeal filed by Senator Adeleke will be binding on two other appeals, while the fourth appeal will be heard and judgment on it delivered separately.
Among the panel members, led by the Acting CJN are Justices Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Kumai Akaahs, Uwani Abba-Aji, Amiru Sanusi, and Paul Galinje.
In his submission, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), who is the appellants’ lawyer, urged the Supreme Court to uphold his clients’ appeal; upturn the judgment of the Court of Appeal; and affirm the decision of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal declared Adeleke as the true winner of the poll by upturning Governor Oyetola’s victory by 2-1 majority ruling.
However, in his counter submission, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), representing the APC candidate, Governor Oyetola, pleaded with the court to not only dismiss the appeal by Adeleke and the PDP, but also affirm the Court of Appeal’s ruling on the case.
Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN), and that of the APC, Olumide Olujinmi (SAN), also aligned themselves with the position canvassed by governor’s lawyer that the apex court should dismiss the appeal.
