These, certainly are not the best of times for Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke as the Osun governorship election petition tribunal has sacked him as governor of the state.
Recall that his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) had petitioned the tribunal to challenge the election victory of Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
For those who don’t know, Oyetola went to the tribunal that there was overvoting in 749 polling units across the 10 Local Government Areas of the state.
Besides, Oyetola had also challenged Adeleke’s eligibility to contest the election.
However, delivering judgment on Friday, January 27th, 2023 two out of a three-member panel of the tribunal held that the petitioner (Oyetola) was able to prove that there was over-voting in some of the polling units.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is said not to have complied substantially with the constitution and the provisions of the electoral act.
Thus, it was declared that Oyetola won the election, having polled 314, 921 defeating Adeleke who scored 290,266.
INEC has now been ordered to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Adeleke and issue a fresh one to Oyetola as the duly elected governor of Osun.
Athough, the court held that Adeleke was eligible to contest the poll.