It’s decision day for former Osun State governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, delivers judgement in the election dispute before it.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke winner of the last 16th July governorship election, ousting Oyetola from power.
Oyetola and his party however headed to the state’s Election Petition Tribunal and got judgment in their favour on 27th January. In a majority decision of two judges to one, the panel, chaired by Justice Tertse Kume, ruled against Adeleke.
On 13th March, the Court of Appeal reserved ruling on the appeal filed by Adeleke and the PDP. The state chapters of the disputing parties expressed hope for victory at the Court of Appeal.
The state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) said it had deployed personnel to critical infrastructure in the state ahead of the judgment.
PDP’s Director of Media in the state, Mr Oladele Olabamiji said his party was hopeful that the Court of Appeal would restore Adeleke’s victory. He said: “We are expecting justice for the electorate in Osun, who collectively voted for the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke. We expect justice in line with the weight of evidence presented before the court”.
His counterpart in the APC, Chief Kola Olabisi also expressed optimism that the party would come out in flying colours. “We are optimistic that we are going to come out in flying colours because of our iron-cast evidence before the court”, Olabisi said.
NSCDC’s acting Public Relations Officer in the state, Kehinde Adeleke said: “Ahead of Friday’s Appeal Court judgment on the matter between Governor Ademola Adeleke and Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola; there is strategic deployment of personnel around critical infrastructure in the state.
“There will also be patrol by armed detachment of the corps in readiness for emergency response. The command is ready to prevent any breakdown of law and order arising from possible protests by aggrieved parties”.
