Osun: Appeal Court ruling on Adeleke delights PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the Appeal Court ruling in favour of its Osun State governorship candidate and now governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

The party in a statement on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Debo Ologunagba expressed delight on the outcome of the court case.

As earlier reported by Naija News, the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure ruled in favour of Senator Ademola Adeleke as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

It will be recalled that Dotun Babayemi who contested in a parallel PDP governorship primary went to court to challenge the validity of the primaries conducted by the national leadership that produced Sen Adeleke as the party’s candidate.

Recall that Babayemi initially instituted a suit against Adeleke before a Federal High Court in Osogbo, seeking to declare him PDP’s governorship candidate in the just-concluded governorship election in the state.

But in a judgment delivered on May 18, the judge, Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel, held that the primary election conducted at the WOCDIF Centre, Osogbo, on March 8, which produced Babayemi is null and void.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Babayemi filed a suit at the Court of Appeal in Akure, challenging the judgment of the lower court.

However, the Court of Appeal, in its judgment on Wednesday, upheld the verdict of the High Court and consequently dismissed Babayemi’s appeal.

Reacting to the judgment of the appellate court, the PDP statement commended the judiciary for the courage in upholding the truth.

It also appreciated the PDP stakeholders in Osun State for their loyalty and support.

The statement reads: “The judgment is a firm confirmation that the Osun State governorship primary was transparently conducted by the Sen. Dr. Iyorchia Ayu-led National Working Committee (NWC) in strict compliance with the provisions of the PDP Constitution and Electoral Guidelines as provided by the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

“Our party commends the Judiciary for its courage, adding that the judgment has further restored the confidence of Nigerians on our judicial system and the processes of the PDP”.

The party expressed confidence in Adeleke and his team to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Osun State.