The panel hearing the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola, from the July 16 Osun governorship election is set to deliver its judgment on Friday. This announcement was made public through a notice displayed on the board at the entrance of the panel’s sitting venue on Tuesday. The APC and Oyetola are contesting the victory of Senator Ademola Adeleke from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
During the proceedings, which took place before a three-member panel led by Justice Tetse Kume, the parties involved had submitted their final written addresses on January 13. Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and Mr. Akin Olujinmi, SAN, representing the petitioners, argued that Adeleke did not secure the majority of lawful votes and therefore should not have been declared the winner by INEC. They also pointed out inconsistencies in the certificates presented by Adeleke.
In response, the counsel for INEC, Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN, along with Onyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN, representing Adeleke, and Dr. Alex Izinyon, SAN, for the PDP, contended that Adeleke was validly elected. They asserted that the election was conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Constitution. The defense urged the panel to uphold Adeleke’s election and dismiss the petition brought forth by the APC and Oyetola.
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