Osun governorship election: Reactions trail declaration of Adeleke as winner

 

Reactions have continued to trail the Friday verdict of the Election Petition Tribunal that declared Senator Ademola Adeleke the authentic winner of the 2018 governorship election of Osun State.

 

• APC rejects tribunal’s verdict

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has rejected the verdict of the Election Petition Tribunal that declared Ademola Adeleke the winner of the 2018 governorship election in the state.

In a statement signed by the Osun APC director of publicity, research and strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, APC cast doubts on the verdict, noting it will not hold water when contested.

“The verdict cannot stand superior legal scrutiny. Therefore we will appeal against it,” the statement said.

The Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Abuja Friday declared Ademola Adeleke winner of the September 22 election.

Chairman of the three-man tribunal Ibrahim Sirajo, said in the ruling that the rerun election that held on September 27 was illegal.

The tribunal said Adeleke won the election at the first ballot on September 22, and the rerun that INEC devised to reach a final conclusion a week later was illegal.

INEC had declared the September 22 election inconclusive because the margin between the PDP and APC, 353 votes, is less than the number of registered voters, 3,498, in the seven polling units where elections were cancelled.

The APC candidate in the election, Oyetola, who was declared the winner after the rerun, APC and INEC had filed their notices of preliminary objection against Adeleke and PDP’s petition on the grounds that the petition is incompetent adding that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the petition.

The objections filed by Oyetola, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was dismissed by the tribunal.

Sirajo, held that the objections were misconceived and struck them out.

• Adeleke’s victory triumph of people’s will, says PDP

The People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) has hailed the verdict of the Osun State Governorship election tribunal, which upheld the victory of its candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, describing the judgement as a victory for democracy and triumph of the will of the people.

The main opposition party said the judgment was a clear indicator that those who set out to destroy the nation’s democracy can never triumph and that no matter how evil and injustice appear to thrive; the truth must always prevail at the end of the day.

In a statement Friday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said Nigerians have accepted democracy as a way of life and a form of government that suits the multi-plurality of the nation.

The statement said, “The spontaneous jubilation that greeted this judgment is therefore a direct indication that it is in consonant with the wishes and aspiration of Nigerians across the board.

“For those who have been desperate to destroy our democracy, this judgment has proven to them that their shenanigans will always come to no avail.

“The PDP commends the judiciary for standing upright in the defence of democracy and for ensuring that those involved in the rapacious desecration of our democratic norms will never succeed.

“This verdict, which reverberates across our nation, points to the fact that the truth will always prevail and that our party, the PDP, will recover all our stolen mandates in the 2019 general elections, particularly, the Presidential mandate, which Nigerians freely gave to our candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

“Furthermore, all our candidates who have already won their elections, but whose victories are being manipulated by anti-democratic forces, must take solace in the words of the Osun election petition panel, that once valid votes have been declared and a winner emerges by majority of votes, a rerun is illegal

“The PDP congratulates Senator Adeleke, the good people of Osun state as well as all lovers of democracy across our country for the triumph of justice over impunity, abuse of electoral processes and unfettered political rascality”.

• Osun: Judiciary defender of our democracy -Atiku

The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23, 2019 elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has applauded the judiciary as truly, the defender of Nigeria’s democracy.

Abubakar made the declaration while reacting to the verdict of the Osun governorship election petition tribunal which upheld the election of the PDP candidate in the September 22, 2018 governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

In a statement on Friday by his media adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, the former Vice President noted that the restoration of the stolen mandate of Senator Adeleke showed that indeed the judiciary is the last refuge of the common man and that in truth, those who were aggrieved and resolved to maintain the peace, have been vindicated.

Atiku congratulated Senator Adeleke, the PDP and men and women of goodwill in Osun State, who he said, did not waiver in their commitment to retrieve the stolen mandate.

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy has come for the people of Osun”, Atiku added.

The PDP presidential candidate commended the courage of the judiciary and its resilience even in the face of alleged strenuous effort by the All Progressives Congress (APC) -led government to undermine and intimidate it.

According to him, the decision of the judiciary in the Osun governorship election was phenomenal in view of the culture of inconclusive elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in this season.

“The judgment has rekindled hope and confidence that those whose mandate had been tampered with or denied can look forward to justice being done to them,” Atiku said.

He urged the judiciary to remain steadfast as the eyes of all Nigerians and indeed the whole world are on them to help ensure that democracy in Nigeria is put on a solid foundation.

• Tribunal ruling already on appeal, says Governor Oyetola

Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola says the judgment of Election Petition Tribunal that declared the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) governorship candidate as winner has been put on appeal.

Oyetola, in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Wole Oyebamiji, on Friday in Osogbo said justice will prevail.

The state government charged the residents of the state to remain calm and go about their lawful activities following the tribunal judgment in the governorship election petition.

It reassured the people of their safety and security of properties because “the Government of the State is still the only legitimate Government having the authority to govern the State.”

The statement reads: “The Government of the State of Osun wishes to appreciate the teeming support of the majority of the people in all things essential for mutual progress.

“As it is, the administration of His Excellency, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, Governor, State of Osun, wishes to assure the people that the judgment of the Election Tribunal has been put on appeal.

“This is to further assure all the residents of the State of adequate security of lives and properties, as the Government of the State is still the only legitimate Government having the authority to govern the State.

“We assure all our people that justice will prevail at last, and the law enforcement agencies have been instructed to maintain law and order across the State. We therefore urge all the residents of the State to go about their lawful duties without any hindrance.”

• NANS hails tribunal declaration of Adeleke as Osun governor

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has hailed the tribunal declaration of Sen. Ademola Adeleke as governor of Osun State, saying it is hope awakening.

Mr. Adeyemi Azeez, National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the association, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

According to Azeez, NANS describes the tribunal victory of Adeleke as a clear hope for the nation’s democracy.

“NANS equally commends President Muhammadu Buhari for once again proving to Nigerians that he is a man of integrity and would not for any reason manipulate or economise the integrity of this country’s democracy for any selfish or party interest.

“We commend the determined sincerity and commitment of the Osun guber tribunal for not compromising the truth.

“NANS hereby implores other states gubernatorial tribunals, to emulate the worthy and sincere practise of the Osun tribunal,” he said.

Azeez added that the judgment would go a long way in restoring, redeeming and repositioning the integrity of Nigeria’s hard earned democracy.