The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Monday announced that it is reserving judgment in an appeal filed by Osun Gov. Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against the nullification of his July 2022 election as governor by the state elections tribunal.
The three-member panel led by Justice M. F. Shuaibu, said:”Judgment would be delivered at a later date.”
The panel came to the conclusion after listening to counsel to Adeleke, Mr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) and Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) who appeared for the immediate-past governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, of the All Progressives Congress.
While Adeleke is the appellant, Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are 1st and 2nd respondents in the case.
Persecondnews reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP are also joined as 3rd and 4th respondents respectively while INEC was represented by Prof. Paul Ananaba (SAN).
The election petition tribunal had on Jan. 27, 2023 nullified the July 16, 2022 election of Adeleke as governor.
INEC had declared Adeleke the winner after collecting a total of 403,371 votes having won in 17 of the 30 local government areas in the state.
But the tribunal led by Justice Terste Kume, in its judgment, invalidated the election and declared Mr. Gboyega Oyetola of APC as the valid winner and directed INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return already issued to Adeleke and his deputy, Kola Adewusi, who were inaugurated in November 2022 and issue same to Oyetola.
He held that the governorship election was not held in compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act and that it was characterized by over-voting.
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