28th January, 2023
Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential, said the validation of Adegboyega Oyetola as the winner of the July 2022 Osun governorship election by the tribunal is a victory of light over darkness.
Tinubu said this in his goodwill message to Oyetola.
The former two-term Lagos State governor in the message said Oyetola’s victory was deserving, describing it as the triumph of courage and perseverance.
He added that it was also the triumph of light over the forces of darkness that sought to arrest the progressive good governance the APC administration delivered to the people of Osun under Oyetola’s leadership.
“I heartily rejoice with Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola on his much-deserved victory at the election tribunal today.
“It is the victory of light over darkness, a triumph of perseverance, courage and justice over electoral fraud and democratic perversion.
“The forces of darkness plotted to extinguish the able leadership and progressive good governance that improved the quality of life of our people under your leadership.
‘But today, the tribunal delivered justice and restored the mandate freely given to you and our great party,” Tinubu stated.
He expressed confidence that the good work Oyetola championed that was momentarily paused would soon resume and Osun people would be happy again.
“And together we can renew their hope of a shared prosperity,” Tinubu said.
A three-man election tribunal chaired by Justice Tertsea Kume on Friday in Osogbo ruled that Oyetola is the duly elected governor of Osun.
Kume in his ruling ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to Oyetola while declaring the result that produced Ademola Adeleke as Governor as null and void.
He ruled that there was over-voting in six Local Government Areas of the state during the exercise.
The majority judgment read by Justice Kume said Oyetola scored the majority lawful votes of 314,931 against Adeleke’s 219,666 at the polls.