Following the nullification of the election of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State by the tribunal on Friday, Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), N. A. Oke and that of the Peoples Democratic Party, Paul Ananaba, have vowed to challenge the ruling at the court of appeal.
The lawyers spoke to reporters shortly after the ruling was delivered in Osogbo. Oke expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling and promised that the necessary legal step to challenge it will be immediately taken.
Ananaba on his part said: “Nigerians, people from Osun should be calm. There are constitutional provisions on what should be done. “I have a feeling, I have the belief that the court of appeal has a duty here.”
Counsel to Oyetola, Saka Laniyonu, described the dissenting ruling as just an expression of the judge’s opinion which does not change the victory that the tribunal has given to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the election.
The Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had earlier in the day in its split ruling of two to one, ruled that Adegboyega Oyetola of APC and not Ademola Adeleke of the PDP won the July 16, 2022 election. The tribunal also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Adeleke and reissue to Oyetola.
