By Ameh John
The Osun State Election Petition Tribunal sitting at Apo in Abuja on Friday, voided the election of Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately withdraw the Certificate of Return earlier issued to him as winner of the September 22, governorship poll.
Delivering its judgement on the Osun governorship dispute on Friday, the tribunal held that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ademola Adeleke scored the highest number of lawful votes cast at the election contrary to the declaration by INEC.
While declaring Adeleke winner of the poll, the tribunal ordered INEC to issue a fresh Certificate of Return be issued to Adeleke.
The three man panel led by Justice Ibrahim Surajo, held that the returning officer, ought not to have cancelled the election in the first place as he lacked the constitutional powers to do so.
The tribunal held that the supplementary election was a product of an illegal cancellation of the results in the seven polling units during the September 22, 2018 main election.
It awarded the sum of N200, 000 as cost against the APC and its candidate, Oyetola.
Details later…
