Osun Governorship Election Tribunal fixes date for judgement

The Osun State Government Election Petition Tribunal will on Friday rule on the petition challenging the declaration of Governor Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the July 16 election.

Former Governor Gboyega Oyetola and his All Progressives Congress (APC) filed the petition against Mr. Adeleke, his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Electoral Commission, INEC.

At a recent meeting in Osogbo, the presiding judge of the court, Tertsea Kume, said the panel would inform the parties in the petition of the date of the judgment.

The court announced the date on Tuesday by pasting a notice on the board at the entrance of the court where the jury was seated.

The note signed by the secretary of the jury stated that the verdict will be delivered on Friday at 9 am

The three-member panel began hearing the election petition in August 2022.

The petitioners’ main arguments are that Mr. Adeleke falsified the academic credentials he submitted for the election and that there was excessive voting in 749 polling stations.

Over the next five months, counsel for Mr. Oyetola and the APC argued the case for the petitioners, while counsel for Mr. Adeleke, PDP and INEC defended their positions.

Witnesses from both parties were called and cross-examined, including INEC officials.

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Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines were also brought to the court to conduct elections.

On the last adjourned day, all parties agreed to their final written address.

The previous 2018 governorship election was also contested between the two candidates and eventually ruled in favor of Mr. Oyetola by the Supreme Court after the court annulled his victory.

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