Adeleke urges INEC not to issue a certificate of return to Oyetola pending the outcome of an appeal

Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, has pleaded with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to provide Mr. Gboyega Oyetola with a Certificate of Return in light of the election tribunal’s ruling.

In its ruling on Friday, the tribunal stated that there was excessive voting in the governorship race. It also stated that when the excessive votes were subtracted, Gboyega Oyetola’s numbers increased to 314 and 921, while Adeleke’s figures decreased to 290 and 266.

The tribunal, under the direction of Justice Terste Kume, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to revoke the certificates of return given to Adeleke and his running mate, Kola Adewusi. It stipulated that Oyetola should receive the certificate of return in its place.

But shortly after the Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal invalidated his election as governor, Adeleke urged INEC not to grant Oyetola the certificate of return until the outcome of his appeal, in a letter to the chairman of the electoral umpire, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.

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The letter, which is partially signed by Hashim Abioye, the lawyer for the second respondent, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, states, “As Solicitors to the 2nd Respondent, we humbly write to notify you that consequent upon the 2nd Respondent’s dissatisfaction with the majority decision of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal delivered on January 27, 2023, the 2nd Respondent has applied for a

In view of the aforementioned, we humbly request that you adhere to the pertinent provisions of the Electoral Act of 2022 by delaying the issuance of a certificate of return to the petition’s first petitioner pending the outcome of the appeal, which we are convinced will be in our client’s favour.

Adeleke had already criticised the decision that led to his removal as the duly elected governor of Osun State.

In his hometown of Ede, the governor announced his intention to appeal the decision, calling it “a miscarriage of justice.”

In a statement by his spokesman, Olawale Rasheed, the governor was quoted as saying that it was “an unfair interpretation against the will of the majority of voters.”

“I urge everyone to maintain their composure. We will challenge the ruling, and we are confident that justice will be served. “Let our people know we’ll do all in our power to keep this highly regarded mandate,” the governor stated.