ASHENEWS reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has kicked against the judgement of the Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal which sacked the state governor, Ademola Adeleke on Friday.
This online platform further reports that the three-member tribunal delivered two split judgements, described as majority and minority judgements.
Recall earlier in Friday, the tribunal nullified the election of Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the governor of Osun state and confirmed Adegboyega Oyetola as the winner of the July 16, 2022 governorship election.
While the majority judgement delivered by two of the panel members nullified the victory of Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the minority judgement delivered by one of the three members of the panel, affirmed his victory.
Reaching to the judgement while speaking with journalists, Counsel to INEC, Prof. Paul Ananaba, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment.
According to INEC, while the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Tertsea Kume delivered the judgment, the second member delivered a dissenting judgement and the third did nothing.
“The tribunal chairman delivered what is called majority judgment; the second member of the panel gave a dissenting judgment while the third thanked everybody at the tribunal.
“These are the issues we will have to look into and get back to the commission. Anybody who listened to today’s judgment will know that only two people delivered the judgment and not three,” INEC said.
INEC stated that the Biomodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) was the primary source of what transpired on the day of the election, adding that there was no way a report issued after the election would be the primary source of what transpired on the election upon which the results would be declared.
INEC further urged the people of the state to remain calm, assuring them that all the legal options would be explored to get Adeleke’s mandate back.
Also speaking, Counsel to PDP, Mr. Nathaniel Oke said that the respondents were dissatisfied with the tribunal’s verdict.
He said that legal steps would be taken to challenge the decision of the Tribunal at the Appeal Court, adding that the majority judgment might not be the position the law.
“You will recall that it was only two people who gave judgment in respect of the July 16, 2022 election,” he said.
However, Counsel to All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abiodun Layonu thanked the tribunal for restoring the victory of Oyetola as the winner of the governorship election.
Layonu thanked Mr Akin Olujimi (SAN) and Mr Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) for leading Oyetola to victory at the tribunal.
He said that the judges at the tribunal considered the option of declaring Oyetola as winner in a majority judgment.
