Tribunal sacks Adeleke, declares Oyetola Osun Governor

The Election Petition Tribunal presided over by Justice Tertse Kume has sacked Senator Ademola Adeleke as Osun State Governor.

In a split judgement of 2:1, the tribunal ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Adeleke.

The tribunal directed INEC to issue the certificate of return to Oyetola.

The tribunal sacked Adeleke for overvoting in some polling units across the State.

Justice Tertse held that after deduction of over-voting, Oyetola polled 314,921 votes against Adeleke’s 290,266.

Earlier, heavily armed security operatives have barricaded roads leading to the Osun State High Court complex as the Election Petition Tribunal delivers verdict on the July 16, 2022, governorship election in the state.

Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the immediate past governor of the state, had challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the election.

Oyetola and APC had on August 5, 2022, filed a petition before the Tribunal in Osogbo challenging the election results from 749 polling units across 10 local government areas, alleging electoral malpractices, especially over-voting.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Adeleke as the winner of the governorship election, having polled 403,271 votes against 375,027 polled by Oyetola.

As early 6a.m., detachment of security personnel had been deployed around the court premises.

All the roads leading to the court were barricaded, thus forcing motorists and pedestrians to take alternate routes.

The entrance to the court premises was also manned by a detachment of heavily armed police personnel.

Newsmen to cover the proceeding as well as other litigants and lawyers with cases were thoroughly screened at the entrance of the court complex before they were allowed in.

There were heavy police presence at the APC party secretariat located along Osogbo-Gbongan road, as well as Tinubu/Shettima campaign office located in the same area.

The PDP secretariat located along Biket area was also heavily guarded by armed police officers.

The Police Command in Osun had earlier assured residents of the state of adequate security of lives and property.

The Star