9th May, 2023
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has dedicated his victory at the Supreme Court on Tuesday to God.
The apex court had on Tuesday in Abuja declared Adeleke as the winner of the July 16 governorship election in Osun State.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, a five-member panel of the apex court held that the court of appeal correctly reinstated Adeleke as governor.
The panel was led by Justice John Inyang Okoro. He held that Oyetola and the APC failed to prove allegations of non-accreditation of voters in 744 polling units with the BVAS and resulting in over-voting.
According to the panel, the failure of the election tribunal in Osun to consider the preliminary objections raised by Adeleke and the PDP at the trial level amounted to denial of fair hearing and rendered the entire proceeding a nullity.
Reacting to the victory, Adeleke said “We dedicate today’s victory to God. Our Governorship is an affirmation that a government of the people, by the people and for the people is possible.
“I express my heartfelt appreciation to great people of Osun state. On behalf of my family and party, I say thank you.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared that Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party winner of the July 16, 2022 governorship poll in Odun. Adeleke polled 403,371 votes, to defeat then-incumbent governor Adegboyega Oyetola, of the All Progressives Congress, who got 375,027 votes.