Some supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have stormed the streets of Osogbo to express their dissatisfaction over the Election Petitions Tribunal Judgment that disqualified Gov. Ademola Adeleke on Friday.
The protesters were in hundreds carrying placards with different inscriptions and chanting anti-opposition songs with long queues of campaign vehicles across streets.
The inscription on placards are “We say no to APC in Osun, Tribunal Panel is not fair, Don’t Dash our people’s mandates, Olorunda Local Government says no to tribunal judgment, among other inscriptions.
Also, most roads leading to the popular Olaiya junction and Old garage were blocked by the protesters, showing their grievances leading to heavy gridlock.
Speaking with some of the protesters at the Olaiya junction, they said their mandate was taken away from them in a repetition of what transpired in 2018 election.
Mr Taiwo Akinyele, said he was not happy with the Tribunal’s judgment in spite of the fact that the evidence before the court was clear that Gov. Adeleke won the election.
Akinyele decried the attitude of the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Tertsea Kume, who gave a different judgment in spite of all evidence against the petitioners.
He expressed optimism that his party (PDP) would retrieved its mandate at the Court of Appeal in Akure in due course.
“It is just a matter of time. We have been deceived and denied of our mandate. Osun people are tired of APC for all their harsh policies. I know God will intervene,’’ he said.
Recall that the Police command in Osun has warned against any unscrupulous element intending to breakdown law and order, adding that the command would ensure the peace of the state.
Some police personnel and other sister agencies were patrolling major roads to ensure no political party takes law into their hands. .
Also recall that Mr Gboyega Oyetola of APC and immediate past governor of the state, had challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Mr Ademola Adeleke of PDP as winner of the election.
Oyetola and the APC had on Aug. 5, 2022, filed a petition before the Tribunal in Osogbo challenging the election results from 749 polling units across 10 local government areas, alleging electoral malpractices, especially over-voting.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Mr Adeleke as the winner of the governorship election, having polled 403, 271 votes against 375,027 polled by Mr Oyetola.
In the judgment delivered by the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Kume, on Friday, he upheld that the July 16, 2022 governorship election did not comply with the Electoral Act, noting that there was indeed over voting in six local government areas in Osun.
The tribunal chairman declared Mr Oyetola as winner of the July 16, 2022 governorship election.
Tribunal judgment: Oyetola’s victory, triumph of justice – Osun APC
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun Chapter has described the tribunal judgment as triumph of justice and truth over falsehood.
The Acting State Chairman of Osun APC, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal in a statement said the governorship tribunal that gave victory to Oyetola was an indisputable indication that the APC is the dominant political party in the state.
Lawal stated that he never, for once, doubted the victory of Oyetola at the tribunal as the verdict was a confirmation that the APC governorship candidate did not lose the July 16, 2022 election but the vote-count.
The acting chairman observed that the difference in the garnered votes, by with which Oyetola was declared the winner of the election by the tribunal, was enough to prove that the APC candidate won the election conveniently and convincingly.
He said the majority judgement that gave Oyetola victory further underscored the fact that the court of law is the last hope of the common man as justice was not only served, it was seen to have been glaringly done.
He appreciated the professional expertise of all the lawyers who featured at the tribunal and also lauded the support and loyalty of all the APC members throughout the duration of the suit at the tribunal.
Lawal enjoined all the APC members and their supporters to go about their businesses in peace, irrespective of provocation from any quarters.
He salute the courage of the party members for their continued believe in the ideals of the party which have been igniting their unalloyed support till date.
Lawal advised the leadership of the PDP and their candidate to approach the court for an appeal if they felt dissatisfied with the tribunal judgment and not resort to self-help which is always counterproductive to the rules of law.
He also expressed gratitude to the entire people of the state for their support and prayers throughout the duration of the matter at the tribunal, promising that the qualitative governance by Oyetola, which they were used to, would soon become their portion in the state again.
