Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo has sacked Governor Ademola Adeleke as the duly elected governor of the state.
Gatekeepers News reports that the tribunal in a split document of two to one declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Adeleke and issue the same to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
According to majority of the judgement which was read by the Chairman, Justice Tertse Kume, Oyetola scored the majority lawful votes of 314,931 against Adeleke’s 219,666.
The ruling read in part, “Consequently, the 2nd respondent did not score a majority of lawful votes cast at the election. The declaration and return is hereby declared null and void.
“The 2nd respondent [Ademola Adeleke] cannot ‘go lo lo lo lo’ and ‘Buga won’ as the duly elected Governor of Osun State in the election conducted on 16th day of July 2022. See Kizz Daniel song, Buga. Rather, we hereby hold that the 1st petitioner [Gboyega Oyetola] scored a majority of lawful votes in the said election and is hereby returned as such.”
Adeleke has a 21-day window to appeal the verdict court.
