Gov Adeleke Writes INEC, Against Any Presentation Of Certificate Of Return To Fmr Gov Oyetola

By Ayodele Oni

Reactions continue to trail the Election Petition judgement on Osun state governorship poll, with supporters of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress, (APC) protesting against and in support of the verdict.

The tribunal had declared former Governor Gboyega Oyetola winner of July election which the National Electoral Commission, (INEC) had earlier given to Ademola Adeleke of the PDP.

As he continues to register his dissatisfaction over the Tribunal’s verdict, Governor Ademola Adeleke, has asked the INEC not to issue a Certificate of Return to Gboyega Oyetola as ordered by the tribunal.

It was gathered that Adeleke made the request following a judgement by the election tribunal.

Although, there was a split in the judgement, the majority judgement of two judges against one ordered that the Certificate of Return should be withdrawn from Adeleke and issued to Adegboyega Oyetola.

The majority judgement which was read by the Chairman, Justice Tertse Kume said Oyetola scored the majority lawful votes of 314, 921 against Adeleke’s 290, 266.

But in a letter to the electoral umpire Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, Adeleke urged INEC not to issue the certificate of return to Oyetola pending the outcome of his appeal.

Adeleke remains Governor until the final disposition of the petition by the apex court.

The letter, signed by Hashim Abioye, lawyer to Adeleke, reads, “As Solicitors to the 2nd Respondent, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, we humbly write to notify you about the dissatisfaction of the 2nd Respondent with the majority decision of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered on January 27, 2023.

“The 2nd Respondent has applied for a certified true copy of the judgement to enable him pursue his appeal against the said judgement.

“In the light of the foregoing, we humbly ask you to apply the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, by not issuing any certificate (of) return to the 1st petitioner in the petition pending the outcome of the appeal which we are confident will be favourable to our client.”