The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal has declared Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the duly-elected governor of Osun state.
The tribunal sacked Isiaka Oyetola of the All Progressive Congress, APC.
The tribunal held that the re-run election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is illegal, null and void.
It urged INEC to withdraw Oyetola’s certificate and issue a certificate of return to Adeleke.
In the ruling read on behalf of a three-member panel of judges by Justice Peter Obi, the tribunal held that the returning officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had no powers to cancel the election in the seven polling units on September 22, 2018 leading to the rerun election on September 27, 2018, adding that he acted “ultra vires his powers.”
The tribunal had earlier upheld claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that results of the Osun governorship elections were altered.
The tribunal held that testimonies by agents of the APC, who were witnesses at the tribunal, showed that Forms EC8A and EC8B were altered after the completion of the election.
The tribunal also dismissed PDP’s claims of over-voting in 125 polling units, saying there was “no scintilla of evidence were adduced that their valid votes were voided.”
On the issue of non-compliance, the tribunal said the PDP could not prove the allegations.
Ademola Adeleke of the PDP had polled a total of 254, 698 votes against Gboyega Oyetola of the APC with 254, 345 votes before the election was declared inconclusive.
Credit: Daily Trust.
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