Osun Election Tribunal Removes Oyetola, Declares Senator Adeleke Winner

 THE election tribunal judgment on Osun 2018 governorship election has ruled in favour of Senator Ademola Adeleke.

The three-member bench of the tribunal led by Justice Ibrahim Sirajo delivered its judgment at the Federal High Court, Apo, Abuja on Friday, March 22.

The petition was filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Adeleke, challenging the victory of Governor Gboyega Oyetola in the guber polls held in September 2018.

Senator Adeleke and the PDP had put forward a total of 20 prayers including prayer asking to be declared winner of the election and be issued certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Justice Peter Obiora in delivered the lead judgment on behalf the tribunal.
“In the final analysis, having held that the cancellation was illegal based on non compliance, it is our decision that the petitioners won the election of the Osun State Gubernatorial Election,’’ Obiora said.

Before the final judgment, the tribunal had in it first preliminary ruling, dismissed all grounds raised in the preliminary objection of the 2nd respondent, Governor Oyetola, it also dismissed all grounds in the preliminary objection filed by the 3rd respondent, APC.

The second preliminary ruling of was, however against Adeleke and the PDP.
The tribunal dismissed their application asking the it to strike out the facts and figures contained in tables used in the replies of Oyetola and APC.
During hearing, the petitioners – PDP and Adeleke called 80 witnesses; INEC called none, while Oyetola presented 11 witnesses, and APC 2.
The tribunal was moved to Abuja in November 2018, after it was initially inaugurated in Osogbo, the Osun state capital.

Meanwhile, Osun state governor, Gboyega Oyetola is yet to appoint any commissioner since he assumed office in November 2018.
The state governor is said to have taken the position due to financial difficulties the state is currently experiencing.