Appeal Court Upholds Governor Adeleke’s Election Victory

On Friday, March 24th, a three-member panel of justices headed by Justice Mohammed Lawal Shuaibu ruled that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and former governor, Gboyega Oyetola, had failed to prove allegations of over-voting against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The court also noted that the election tribunal had erred in its ruling that the 1st and 2nd respondents (Gboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress) had proven their allegation of over-voting. The appellate court then awarded the sum of N500,000 as cost against the APC and its candidate. Additionally, they dismissed Adeleke’s argument that the comments made by the chairman of the governorship election petitions tribunal, “go low low, Buga won”, did not amount to bias. As a result of this ruling, Ademola Adeleke has been reinstated as Governor of Osun state.