The Court of Appeal on Friday set aside the tribunal judgment that nullified Ademola Adeleke as governor of Osun State. Earlier, Adeleke had won the election but it was nullified.
The court led by Justice Mohammed Lawal, sustained that the appeal lodged by Adeleke to challenge his sack by the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal was meritorious. Further, the court demanded a sum of N500,000 from the APC and its candidate, Gboyega Oyetola.
During the ruling, the court insisted that the party claiming non-compliance with the electoral act must prove its case. Again, this must be done without merely relying on the weakness of the other party. Therefore, Justice Mohammed overruled the judgement of the governorship election tribunal.
Currently, he revoked the order that states that the Certificate of Return be withdrawn from Adeleke. It was reissued to him.
Earlier in January, the Osun tribunal had annulled Adeleke’s victory. Then they affirmed Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress as the authentic winner of the poll. This was after the Independent National Electoral Commission had returned Adeleke as the winner of the poll.
Finally, Adeleke is joyful as he is now the authentic winner and governor of Osun State.