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Oyetola Reacts To Appeal Court Judgement Against Him

Former Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has broken his silence after the Appeal Court on Friday ruled against him.
According to him, there is ground for him and his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, to approach the Supreme Court over the judgement of the Appeal Court.
Reacting to the Appeal Court judgement which upturned the decision of the Tribunal that initially sacked Governor Ademola Adeleke, Oyetola noted that his belief in the judiciary also remains unshaken.
Oyetola in a statement issued by his media aide, Ismail Omipidan said the from the snippet available from the judgement, there are solid ground to seek further redress at the Apex Court.
He appealed to members and supporters of the APC to remain calm and not to be discouraged over the outcome of the Friday’s appeal, saying his abiding faith in God to reclaim his mandate remains undoubted.
The statement partly reads; “We have heard the judgement of the Appeal Court, but we are yet to receive a copy of the judgement.
 
“However, from the snippets we are getting, we believe we have a potential ground to approach the Supreme Court. Our belief in the judiciary remains unshaken, just as my abiding faith in the God’s promise regarding the reclaim of my mandate remains undoubted.
 
“I, therefore, appeal to our supporters and party members to remain calm as we take the next step.”
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Jubilation In Osun As Appeal Court Affirms Adeleke’s Victory

There was jubilation in Osun after the Appeal Court affirmed Governor Ademola Adeleke as the duly elected governor of the state.
The jubilants crowd were seen singing victory and solidarity songs in appreciation of the Governor’s victory.
Party supporters in Osogbo, Ede, the Governor’s country home thronged major street celebrating what they described as victory for the will of the people.
The Osogbo crowd, danced from Oja-Oba through Isale-Osun, Asubiaro, Jaleyemi, Odi-Olowo and stopped at Olaiya junction to dance for few minutes before moving back through the named routes.
Speaking with journalists at Olaiya, Osogbo local government Caretaker Chairman of the Party, Ajibola Asimiyu said the party members felt obliged to jubilate the victory as affirmed by the appellate court.
 
“We are out to thank God that the people’s mandate is not taken away by the judiciary. Our resolve is to stand with the Governor till the very last minute. We voted for him and we will always pray for his success.
 
“Today, the Appeal Court has further affirmed out believe in the judiciary and we residents of the state, irrespective of political party affiliation, to cooperate with the Governor with a view to steering the ship of the state to enviable height”, he said.
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How Governor Adeleke Won at Appeal Court, Oyetola Fined N500,000

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Friday slammed N500,000 fine on the All Progressives and its candidate, Gboyega Oyetola as it set aside the tribunal judgment that nullified the election of Ademola Adeleke as governor of Osun State.
The unanimous decision was given by a three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Mohammed Lawal.
Adeleke to challenge his sack by the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal was meritorious.
The court also held that the sum of N500,000 is awarded as a cost against the All Progressive Congress and its candidate, Gboyega Oyetola.
During the ruling, the justice resolved that the preponderance of proof that there was over-voting in the elections rested on the petitioner.
The court also maintained that “the party alleging non-compliance with the electoral act must prove its case without merely relying on the weakness of the other party.”
Delivering judgment, Justice Mohammed Shaibu overruled the judgment of the governorship election tribunal that nullified the outcome of the July governorship polls.
The three-man panel revoked the tribunal’s order which directed that a Certificate of Return be withdrawn from Adeleke and issued to his predecessor and All Progressives Congress candidate, Oyetola.
The Osun tribunal had annulled Adeleke’s victory and affirmed Gboyega Oyetola of All Progressives Congress as the authentic winner of the poll.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had returned Adeleke as the winner of the poll.
INEC said Adeleke polled 403,371 votes to defeat then-incumbent Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the APC, who got 375,027 votes
But Oyetola and the APC 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.
However, a minority judgment by Justice B. Ogbuli affirmed Adeleke as the winner of the poll.
Displeased, Adeleke and the PDP headed for the Court of Appeal.
The Court of Appeal heard the appeal on March 13 and reserved its judgment.
But the court of Appeal on Friday set aside the tribunal judgement.
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2023 Elections

35-year-old Man Arrested With Gun In Osun

Operatives of Osun Amotekun Corps have arrested a 35-year-old man, Tunde Abidoye in the state.

Abidoye was arrested with a single barrel gun in Ile Ogbo, Ayedire local government of Osun State on Friday following a complaint lodged at the Ayedire Command of the security outfit.

The complaint was that Abidoye was unleashing terror on residents of the town and destroying their properties.

Confirming the arrest, the Osun Amotekun Corps Commander, Brigadier-General Bashir Adewinmbi said the suspected hoodlum was arrested by the operatives for terrorising the residents of Ile-Ogbo and its environs.

Adewinmbi said, “The suspected hoodlum was arrested on Friday after a complaint was lodged at Ayedire local government command that the suspect was unleashing terror assaults on the innocent people of Ile-Ogbo and destroying their properties. Our men swung into action shortly after the complaint was made and the culprit was arrested and a single barrel gun was found on him at the time of his arrest.

“The suspect was also alleged of causing violence during the last presidential election in the town by shooting at the people who wanted to exercise their civil responsibility and he was planning to disrupt the House of assembly election on Saturday before he was arrested.

“During investigation, he admitted to perpetrating the act,” Adewinmbi asserted.

The suspect has been handed over to the police for subsequent investigation and prosecution, he added.

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Assembly Poll: Adeleke Declares Friday Public Holiday

Gov Ademola Adeleke of Osun state has declared Friday, March 17th as public holiday.

A statement issued by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed on Thursday, stated that the holiday is to enable Osun State residents travel to their polling units to vote on Saturday for the State House of Assembly elections.

The State Governor further advised residents of the state to be peaceful and law abiding as they prepare for the elections.

This holiday is to enable Osun State residents travel to their polling units to vote on Saturday for the State House of Assembly elections.

“I call on Osun people to file out and exercise their civic rights. This election is very critical as you will be electing lawmakers who will be working with me. You must vote right”, the statement reads.

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2023 Elections

Nigeria Decides 2023: Atiku Wins 18 LGs In Osun

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has won 18 out of the 23 local governments so far announced in Osun State.

His counterpart, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, won in five local government areas of the state.

The collation officers across local governments in the state announced the results before the State Returning Officer, Professor Tolulope Ogunsola of the University of Lagos.

Atiku leads in Boluwaduro, Ifedayo, Ila, Odo-Otin, Irepodun, Orolu, Ede-North, Ede-South, Ife-South, Ife-North, Ola-Oluwa, an Ayedire local government council areas.

Other local government areas where the PDP candidate won include: Obokun, Oriade, Atakumosa-East, Atakumosa-West, Egbedore, Ilesa-East and Ilesa-West.

Meanwhile, Tinubu won in Osogbo, Olorunda, Ife-Central, Ife-East and Boripe local government areas with wide margins.

However, the Labour party comes a distant third in the results declared so far.

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2023 Elections

Election: Osun Declares Friday Work-Free Day

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has declared Friday a work-free-day for residents of the state.
Adeleke gave the approval for the holiday on Wednesday.
A statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Teslim Igbalaye, said the holiday would enable residents and indigenes to travel for Presidential and National Assembly elections holding on Saturday.
The statement also said public servants were expected to utilise the opportunity to travel for the electoral process.
It further read in parts, “This is time for all citizens to exercise their voting rights. His Excellency again appeals to all residents to be law-abiding as they peacefully exercise their voting rights on Saturday and subsequent elections.”
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Tribunal removes Ademola Adeleke as governor of Osun state.

Senator Ademola Adeleke has been removed as Governor of Osun State by an election petition tribunal.

Gboyega Oyetola

Adeleke’s victory in the July 16, 2022, governorship election in Osun state was upturned by a three-man panel led by Justice Tertsea Kume on Friday, January 27.

This followed the admission of claims of over-voting in some polling units in the state. According to the tribunal, Adegboyega Oyetola, a former Governor of the state who was the All Progressives Congress candidate in the election, garnered 314,931 votes in the election against Adeleke’s 219,666 votes.

The majority judgement was split two to one. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has now been ordered to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Adeleke be withdrawn and issue another to Adegboyega Oyetola.