The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ruled that Governor Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is the winner of the Osun State governorship election.
The court nullified the judgement of the election tribunal declaring Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the election.
On January 27, two out of the three-member of the election tribunal had held that the former Governor Oyetola was able to prove that there was over-voting in some of the polling units, thereby declaring him the winner of the Osun State gubernatorial election held last year.
Adeleke rejected the judgment of the election tribunal and went to Court of Appeal.
In the 31 grounds of appeal, Adeleke begged the court for “an order setting aside the whole decision of the tribunal”.
He also sought “an order striking out the petition for want of competence and jurisdiction or in the alternative, an order dismissing the petition on the merit”.
The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices on Friday, ruled that the governor’s appeal to challenge his sacking by the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, was meritorious.
Appellate court in its lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Mohammed Lawal also awarded N500,000 cost against APC and its candidate, Oyetola.