Protesters block Osun roads over tribunal’s judgement

Scores of residents, on Saturday, protested the validation of the immediate past governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, as the winner of the July 2022 governorship election by the Election Petitions Tribunal.

The protesters blocked some major roads in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, and Ilesa over the tribunal’s judgement which sacked Senator Ademola Adeleke as the governor of the state.

It was gathered that many commuters were stranded and trekked long distances to their destinations, while many shops were shut over the fear of attack by hoodlums.

It was further learned that the convoy of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Kehinde Longe, was stopped by some members of the transport management committee in the Igbona area of the state.

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Security operatives in the convoy of the police commissioner were said to have later cleared the barricade and continued their journey.

Speaking on the development, the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola, said police operatives have been deployed to the roads blocked by the protesters.

A three-man election tribunal chaired by Justice Tertsea Kume, in Osogbo, on Friday, ruled that Oyetola is the duly elected governor of the state.

Kume, in his ruling, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to Oyetola while declaring the result that produced Ademola Adeleke as governor as null and void.

He ruled that there was over-voting in six Local Government Areas of the state during the election.

The majority judgement read by Justice Kume said Oyetola polled 314,931 votes against Adeleke’s 219,666 votes.

The Star