Adeleke criticizes the tribunal’s decision and says he will file an appeal

Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, has said that he will challenge the decision to remove him from office.

Adeleke declared the governorship election petitions tribunal’s decision to be “a miscarriage of justice” and promised to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Adeleke was named the victor of the July 16 governorship election.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Osun governor Gboyega Oyetola filed a lawsuit with the tribunal in August 2022 to contest Adeleke’s victory.

Oyetola said that there was over voting at 749 polling places throughout 10 LGAs of the state, among other things.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Jan. 27, two out of the three-member panel of the tribunal held that the petitioner was able to prove that there was indeed over-voting in some of the polling units.

Since Oyetola was legitimately elected governor of Osun, the majority judgment of the tribunal directed INEC to remove the certificate of return issued to Adeleke and issue a new one to Oyetola.

Reacting on Twitter, Adeleke wrote: “I want to use this opportunity to call on our people to remain calm. We will appeal the judgement and we are sure justice will be done. Let everyone be reassured that we will do everything possible to retain this widely acclaimed mandate. God bless Osun!”