The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has affirmed the election of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.
In its lead judgement delivered by Justice Mohammed Lawal, the court set aside the verdict of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, which sacked Adeleke.
In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of justices, the court described as meritorious, the appeal by Adeleke challenging his removal from office by the election petition tribunal which gave victory to Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
In addition, the tribunal awarded N500,000 cost against the APC, and its candidate, Oyetola.
It would be recalled that the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo on January 27, 2023, nullified the election of Governor Ademola Adeleke of PDP.
The chairman of the three-member panel, Justice Tertsea Kume, who read the judgement, said the July 16, 2022 governorship election was not conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act.
Kume said that there was indeed over voting in 744 polling units in the local government areas (LGAs) of the state.
He said that it was the duty of the tribunal to deduct the valid votes cast from the over-voting.
He said that after the deduction of valid votes scored by the candidates from the observed over-voting, Mr Gboyega Oyetola of APC polled 314,931, while Adeleke polled 290,266 votes.
