Summary:
- The Court of Appeal in Osun State has postponed the judgement on the appeal filed by Governor Ademola Adeleke challenging the nullification of his election by the Osun State Governorship Tribunal.
- Adeleke is seeking to overturn the tribunal’s ruling that declared Gboyega Oyetola as the winner of the governorship election.
- The court’s postponement of the verdict has raised questions about the next steps in the legal battle and the implications of the ruling for the Osun State governorship election.
The Osun State Governorship Appeal judgement has been postponed by the Appeal Court, raising questions on what the next steps will be.
Governor Ademola Adeleke had filed an appeal on February 9th, challenging the judgement of the Osun State Governorship Tribunal, which nullified his election and declared Gboyega Oyetola, the former Governor of the State, as the winner.
The governor has labeled the tribunal’s ruling a “miscarriage of justice” and is seeking a rejection of the ruling or an order to strike out the petition on the grounds of incompetence and lack of jurisdiction.
The Court of Appeal was expected to deliver its verdict on the case on Monday, but the judgement was postponed, raising questions about the next steps in the legal battle.
Governor Adeleke is relying on his 31 grounds of appeal, praying for the court to “set aside the whole decision of the tribunal.” The governor also seeks “an order dismissing the petition on merit” or “an order striking out the petition for want of competence and jurisdiction.”
The case has been closely watched in Nigeria, as it raises significant questions about the country’s electoral system and the integrity of the electoral process.
The tribunal’s ruling was contested by Governor Adeleke, who accused the tribunal of bias and a derision of his personal eccentricity for dancing, particularly the Buga song.
Governor Adeleke noted that the tribunal’s reference to his dancing at his inauguration as governor of Osun State was never an issue before the lower tribunal and suggests that the tribunal was biased against him.
The tribunal had ruled in favor of Gboyega Oyetola, the former Governor of the State, who had successfully proved over-voting in some of the polling units.
However, Governor Adeleke contests the ruling, stating that the tribunal erred in law by returning the first respondent as the duly elected candidate without due regard to the enormity of the voters in the units where the results were cancelled for over-voting.
The postponement of the verdict by the Court of Appeal has raised questions about the next steps in the legal battle and the implications of the ruling for the Osun State governorship election.
The legal battle underscores the importance of the judiciary in ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and upholding the rule of law.
The final verdict in the case will be eagerly awaited by Nigerians, as it will have significant implications for the country’s democratic process and the role of the judiciary in upholding the rule of law.
