Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has extended an olive branch to his immediate predecessor, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola.
Adeleke, reacting to the judgment of the Court of Appeal which restored him as the duly elected governor, called on former Governor Oyetola to join hands with him to work for the development of Osun State.
The governor made the call to Oyetola and other politicians across political parties in the state in a statement he personally signed.
The appellate court, sitting in Abuja, had, today (Friday) dismissed the tribunal judgment which, last January, upturned the victory of Adeleke at the 16 July, 2022 governorship election held in the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Senator Adeleke as the winner of the election, having polled 403,371 votes against Oyetola’s 375,027 votes.
Not satisfied with the outcome of the election and the swearing in of Adeleke as the governor, Oyetola and his party headed for the governorship election tribunal.
In a majority decision, the Justice Tertse Kume-led tribunal upturned Adeleke’s victory and declared Oyetola as the winner in his stead.
However, a member of the tribunal, Justice B. Ogbuli, in a minority judgment, averred that Adeleke, indeed, was the winner of the election.
Convinced of their victory at the July 2022 election, Adeleke and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headed for the Court of Appeal to challenge the ruling of the tribunal.
The appellate court heard the appeal on 13 March, 2023 and reserved its judgment till today when it set aside the judgment of the tribunal.
The three-member court, led by Justice Mohammed Lawal, held in a unanimous decision that the appeal lodged by Adeleke to challenge his sack by the governorship tribunal was meritorious.
The Appeal Court held that the preponderance of proof that there was over-voting in the governorship election rested on the petitioner.
It also maintained that “the party alleging non-compliance with the electoral act must prove its case without merely relying on the weakness of the other party.”
The three judges revoked the tribunal’s order which directed that the Certificate of Return be withdrawn from Adeleke and be issued to his predecessor, Oyetola.
The court also held that the sum of N500,000 be awarded as a cost against the APC and its candidate, former Governor Oyetola.
Reacting to the Court of Appeal judgment, Governor Adeleke said he dedicated it to God and the people of Osun State.
Reaching out to his predecessor, he said: “Let me use this opportunity to extend sincere hands of fellowship to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and the APC.
“Let’s build the state together. Let’s unite for the good of our people. The state needs leaders across party lines to join hands for robust and accelerated development of the state.
“As brothers and sisters, we are all requested to start the process of healing. Forget party politics as election is over.
“All members of the political class in Osun state should join hands with me to take our state to greater height.
“I thank God Almighty and our good people of Osun State. I dedicate this victory to God and my people.
“This judgment confirmed my earlier position that the judgment of the tribunal is a miscarriage of justice. The Judiciary has right the wrongs of the lower Court.
“This has rekindled the confidence of the nation in the integrity of the judiciary as the stabiliser of the judiciary and last hope of the common man.
“I am particularly glad that the Court of Appeal has ruled that BVAS machine and voters register are the primary sources, not the report from the server.
“This has strengthened our democracy and remove a time bomb which the judgment of the tribunal had planted for our democracy.
“I appreciate Osun people for standing by me and my party through repeated validation of my governorship mandate at the recent federal and state elections.
“My party won three straight elections from July 16, 2022 to the March 18,2023. It was a resounding vote of confidence in my governorship by the people of Osun State.
“The judiciary has now confirmed the will of the people that I am the validly elected governor of my state.
“My appreciation goes to the civil servants, artisans, market people, clerics, students, women and youth. Osun people defended the mandate from 2022 to date.
“I commend the judiciary for resisting all pressure. Rule of Law is strengthened when judgment affirms the will of the people.
“On behalf of Osun people and my party, the PDP, we appreciate the judiciary and the men of conscience at the bar and the bench.”
