Connect with us

Politics

OSUN: Gov Oyetola, APC file appeal against Tribunal ruling

Published

on

Osun election tribunal okays substituted service on Oyetola, INEC

The governor of Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) have run to the Appeal
Court to upturn the judgement of the Election Petition Tribunal that nullified his election.

The Tribunal had recently voided the election of Oyetola, and declared Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) winner.

The tribunal also asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC to issue Adeleke a certificate of return, as elected governor of Osun State.

But the APC and Oyetola in a 39-ground notice of appeal filed by their team of lawyers, led by Wole Olanipekun have kicked against the judgement, asking the Apeal Court to quash it.

In his first ground of appeal, Oyetola faulted the judgements of Justice Peter Obiora who, according to him, ‘’did not participate in all the proceedings of the tribunal and who was not present when all the witnesses gave evidence.”

He said: “The writing of and or the particiation of the Honourable Justice P. C. Obiora in the writing of the judgment of the lower tribunal of 22nd March 2019 and delivery of same, vitiates the entire judgment.”

He argued that votes scored by each party were publicly announced after counting and that the announced scores of parties were truly reflected on Forms EC8A tendered by petitioners, the tribunal was wrong to have proceeded to cancel results.

Oyetola said: “All petitioners’ witnesses testified and admitted that petitioners were not short-changed regarding the scores recorded for them in each Form EC8A tendered, and that no addition of votes was reflected in favour of the appellants.

“The lower tribunal had rightly found that there was no over-voting; there was no voiding of valid votes; that accreditation can only be done through voters’ register; that no single ballot paper was tended before it.

“By cancelling of elections in 17 poling units the lower tribunal acted without jurisdiction. By deciding as aforesaid, the lower tribunal discountenanced Section 139(1) of the Electoral Act.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now