The Court of Appeal Abuja has set aside the decision of the Osun State Governorship tribunal, and has upheld the Governorship of senator Ademola Adeleke.
A 3-man panel of the Appeal Court on Friday, delivered judgement in the legal battle between Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke of the people Democratic Party and his predecessor, Adegboyega Oyetola of the All progressive Congress.
Adeleke, was declared the winner of the governorship poll held on July 16, however, Oyetola and his party who were unsatisfied with the outcome of the poll, in August 2022, petitioned the Tribunal to challenge Adeleke’s victory on the grounds that he did not qualify to contest the election and that there was over voting in 749 polling units across 10 local governments.
On the second and third issues, the tribunal held that the conduct of the election was not in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act as amended.
In the judgement, two out of the three-member panel of the Tribunal held that Oyetola could prove that there was indeed over-voting in some of the polling units.
Consequently, the majority judgement of the tribunal ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Adeleke and issue a fresh one to Oyetola as the duly elected governor of Osun.
At the Appellate court, counsel to Adeleke invalidated the case of over casting a ballot.
