Adeleke Triumphs Over Oyetola In Supreme Court

Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been confirmed by the Supreme Court as the next governor of Osun State.

Fidel Info reports that former Governor and candidate of the All Progressive Congress Adegboyega Oyetola who came second in the election on July 16, 2022, had petitioned against Mr. Adeleke’s victory.

Mr. Oyetola, was declared the victor of the election after the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Osogbo deducted “unlawful votes” from the PDP’s totals and upheld the accusation of excessive voting in the areas won by Mr. Adeleke.

However, Mr. Adeleke filed a writ of appeal against the judgment of the lower court, pleading with the appellate court to overturn it and uphold his triumph.

A three-member panel of the appellate court led by Mohammed Shuaibu unanimously overturned the earlier decision of the election petition tribunal which nullified the governor’s victory in January.

Upholding Mr Adeleke’s victory, the Court of Appeal held that the tribunal was “wrong to reach the conclusion that there was over-voting during the state governorship election held on 16 July 2022.”

Mr Shuaibu who prepared and read the lead decision said “the burden of proving the allegations of over-voting lies squarely with the respondents (Mr Oyetola and the APC).”