The Osun State Elections Petitions Tribunal has nullified the election of Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared Gboyega Oyetola, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the July 16, 2022 election as the winner of the election.
In its ruling on Friday, Justice Tetse Kume-led panel in its judgement said there was overvoting on the examination of BVAS manipulation, declared Gboyega Oyetola the validly elected governor of the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Adeleke the winner after polling 403,371 against Oyetola’s 375,027 votes.
Not satisfied with the declaration by the electoral umpire, Oyetola had filed a petition at the tribunal challenging the declaration of Adeleke as the winner of the election.
He asked the tribunal to nullify the election, hinging his case on alleged rigging by over voting, infractions in some polling units, and the authenticity of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate presented by the PDP candidate among other grounds.
Delivering its judgement on Friday, the tribunal held that the governorship election was characterized by over-voting, adding that after deducting the excessive votes, Oyetola’s figures rose to 314, 921, while Adeleke’s came down to 290, 266.
The tribunal therefore instructed the electoral body, INEC should withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Adeleke and his deputy, Kola Adewusi, and issue the same to Oyetola.
The majority judgement which was read by the Chairman, Justice Kume said Oyetola got the majority of lawful votes of 314,931 while Adeleke had 219,666.
