Adeleke’s Cert Scandal: We Will Appeal Judgement On SSCE Result – PDP

By Sikiru Obarayese

Following the court judgement that nullified the nomination of Senator Ademola Adeleke, as the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the September 2018 Osun governorship election, the party has vowed to take the legal battle to the highest court of the land.

Reacting to the verdict, the party in a statement by Ademola Adeleke Campaign Organisation which was signed by Barr Niyi Owolade, said there is lacuna in the judgment, saying it subverted justice by ignoring four critical evidence to rule against validated facts and submissions.

It would be recalled that the Justice Oathman Musa of an Abuja High Court sitting in Bwari Area Council of Abuja on Tuesday Nullified the nomination of Senator Ademola Adeleke as the candidate of the PDP in the Osun election.

Two Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Wahab Raheem and Adam Habeeb, had in 2018 barely few weeks to the governorship election, dragged Adeleke to court, accusing him of not possessing the requisite educational qualification (Secondary School Certificate) to contest for the office of Governor.

The party said, the judgement was done in error, arguing that in the face of the constitution, Adeleke is qualified to run for the governorship.

According to the party, there were two rulings that affirmed the qualification of Adeleke, adding that the rulings stated it clearly that Adeleke satisfied requirement of the law to contest for office.

The statement reads in part: “It would be recalled first of all that the matter in question has been addressed by two High Courts ruling, affirming that in the face of the constitution, Senator Ademola Adeleke is qualified to run for the governorship.

“Secondly, we want to note that the judge erred in law by failing to take note of the expiration of 180 days for ruling on pre-election matters. Even when a December 2018 judgement with respect to the issue was presented, the judge ignored it.

“Thirdly, the West African Examination Council was also summoned by the court at the instance of the plaintiff to present evidence of facts. The council produced the listing of all students who sat for the May/June examination in 1981 alongside the Senator. The Council produced certified true copies of school results.

“Fourthly, the plaintiff shocked by WAEC testimony, again filed request that the court compelled the school principal to appear in court to produce evidence of facts as well as to confirm the authenticity of the statement of results. The principal appeared and confirmed that the statement was a product of the school and that any error on the statement was that of the school, not that of Senator Adeleke. The school did not at any point disowned the statement of results. The school owned up to the error which was not about forgery but alleged false information”, the PDP stressed.