APC rejects Tribunal’s verdict on Adeleke

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun state has declared that it has rejected the Election Petition Tribunal verdict that declared Senator Adeleke the winner of the September 22, 2018 governorship election in the state.

According to the party in a terse statement issued by the party’s Director of publicity, Kunle Oyatomi in osogbo said ”the verdict cannot stand superior legal scrutiny. Therefore we will appeal against it”.

The Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja had declared Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the bonafide winner of the governorship election that was held in the state in September.

The tribunal, in a two-to-one judgment, held that Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was not the valid winner of both the September 22 and 27 re-run elections.

It nullified the Certificate of Return
the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, issued to Oyetola, even as it awarded a cost of 200,000.00 against him and the APC.

In the lead verdict that was delivered by Justice Peter Obiora, the tribunal held that the State Returning Officer of INEC that cancelled results of seven polling units in four LGAs of the state, which led to the September 27 re-run poll, had no power to do so.

It invalidated the outcome of the re-run election.

“We hold that the cancellation was unlawful and ultra-vires of his powers.

“The cancellation cannot stand, being a product of illegality”, the tribunal held.

However, Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, said he disagreed with the lead verdict.