– Calls On INEC to Issue Certificate of Return to Oyetola
The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Osogbo, has sacked Ademola Adeleke, as the elected Governor of the state of Osun.
The tribunal, in a split decision of two to one, held that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should immediately withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Adeleke of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and issue the same to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
It also declared Oyetola, as the winner of the July 16 Osun governorship poll, and annulled the victory of Adeleke.
The majority judgement, which was read by the Tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Tertse Kume, said Oyetola scored majority lawful votes of 314,931 against Adeleke’s 219,666.
Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has rejected the judgement of the Election Tribunal, saying it is “a miscarriage of justice.”
Adeleke also vowed to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
Reacting to the verdict, from his country home in Ede, Adeleke faulted the resolution of the over-voting question in favour of Oyetola, calling it “an unfair interpretation against the will of majority of voters”
In a statement signed by his spokesman, Olawale Rasheed, he urged his supporters to remain calm, while he vowed to appeal the judgement at the Court of Appeal.
He insisted he remained the rightful winner of the July 16 election.
His words; “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”.