PDP, APC react to Osun tribunal judgement

All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun, on Friday, expressed divergent views on the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal judgement delivered on Friday.

The tribunal had, in its judgement, declared former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola as the authentic winner of the July 16, 2022 governorship election in the state.

While the tribunal chairman, Justice Tertsea Kume, delivered the majority judgement which gave victory to Mr Oyetola, another member of the three-man panel delivered a minority judgement.

Addressing reporters shortly after the judgement, counsel to APC, Dr Abiodun Layonu, thanked the tribunal for restoring the victory of Mr Oyetola as the winner of the governorship election.

Mr Layonu thanked Akin Olujimi (SAN) and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) for leading Mr Oyetola to victory at the tribunal.

He said that the judges at the tribunal considered the option of declaring Mr Oyetola as winner in a majority judgement.

Also, counsel to PDP, Nathaniel Oke, told reporters that the respondents were dissatisfied with the tribunal’s verdict.

Mr Oke said necessary legal steps to challenge the judgement would be embarked upon by the respondents in order to get Mr Adeleke’s mandate back.

He said that the majority judgement might not be the position of the court, adding, however, that the respondents stood with the minority judgement which, he said, showed the true picture of what transpired at the election.

“You will recall that it was only two people who gave judgement in respect of the July 16, 2022 election,” he said.

Mr Oke expressed optimism that Mr Adeleke’s mandate would be retrieved at the appellate court.

In his own reaction, Counsel to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Paul Ananaba, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgement.

“The tribunal chairman delivered what is called majority judgement; the second member of the panel gave a dissenting judgement 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 judgement will know that only two people delivered the judgement and not three.

Mr Ananaba further stated that the Bimodal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) was the primary source of what transpired on the day of the election.

He said 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.

Mr Ananaba urged the people of the state to remain calm, assuring them that all the legal options would be explored to get Mr Adeleke’s mandate back.

(NAN)