- Safiu Kehinde
The Appeal Court on Friday has confirmed Governor Demola Adeleke of Osun as the rightful winner of the July 16 2022 governorship election in Osun State.
While setting aside the ruling of the lower tribunal which confirmed his opponent, Gboyega Oyetola as winner, the tribunal also awarded N500,000 in favour of Adeleke to be paid by Oyetola.
At the court on Friday were supporters of both camps.
The three member led by Justice Mohammed Shuabu said the lower tribunal erred in its ruling which said Oyetola won the election.
The Appeal Court said that the party that made allegations of non-compliance with the electoral act had the burden to prove its case and not to merely rely on the weakness of the other party.
Justice Mohammed Shaibu therefore ruled that the election tribunal that nullified the outcome of the July governorship polls erred.
In the July 16 election, INEC had declared Adeleke winner polling 403,371 votes to defeat then-incumbent Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the APC, who got 375,027 votes
Oyetola and the APC however rejected the result of the poll and headed for the tribunal.
In its January 27, 2023 majority verdict, the Justice Tertse Kume-led tribunal annulled Adeleke’s victory and declared Oyetola the winner of the poll.