For The Records: Why Adeleke’s Victory At Osun Tribunal Might Be Upturned At The Appeal Court

The Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Friday declared the PDP Candidate, Ademola Adeleke winner of last year’s governorship election.

However, in an interesting twist to the Majority judgement which discredited the election of Governor Oyetola, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, the Chairman of the Tribunal held that the election of the incumbent is valid.

Here are some of the submissions of Justice Sirajo which might prove to be APC’s Strength of Defence at the Appeal Court;

“Dissenting judgment dismissed Adeleke Petition

There is a dissenting judgment. The Chiarman of the Tribunal disagreed on the isssue on non-compliance and the nullification of the rerun. He is giving his reason!!! Getting interesting.

The Chairman held that the returning officer properly ordered rerun election

The rerun was in order

The Chairman held that there is no credible evidence on non compliance by the Petitioners

Section 40(2) OF ELECTORAL ACT was not considered by the Petitioner- the Chairman

All the Petitioners witnesses in the 23 unit that they don’t have problem with the result of the parties

It has not bee shown that there was overvoting

90% of processes in the polling units were complied with

Non recording of the columns has not been shown to amount to substatntial non-compliance and has not been shown to affect the result of the election

By Section 140(2) of the Electoral Act does not permit the Tribunal to deduct votes and declare a winner.”

The Appeal Court has only 60 dates to make a decision on the legality of the Tribunal’s judgement.