Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, who contested the last governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has asked the Court of Appeal in Abuja to reverse the majority judgment given on March 22 by the Osun State election tribunal.
The tribunal had, by a majority judgment given by two of its three members, voided the election of Oyetola, pronounced Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) winner.
It then asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him a certificate of return.
In a 39-ground notice of appeal filed on March 26, 2019 by his team of lawyers, led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Oyetola faulted the majority judgment, given by Justices Peter Obiora and Anyinla Gbolagunte, on the grounds that it was perverse, replete with contradictions and not supported by evidence led by the petitioners.
Oyetola wants the Court of Appeal to uphold his appeal, set aside the majority judgment and dismiss the October 16, 2018 petition by PDP and Adeleke.
The governor said his complaint, in the appeal, was against the entire majority judgment, except where the tribunal held that it lacked jurisdiction to set aside INEC Guidelines; that the allegation of over voting was not proved; that the petitioners did not prove voided votes and other parts of the judgment where the tribunal agreed with their arguments.