By Deborah Onyofufeke
The Supreme Court has fixed Tuesday, May 9 to deliver the long awaited make or mar judgment in the Osun state governorship election dispute of July 16, 2022.
The five man panel of justices of the apex court on Monday, resolved to give its final judgement on the matter today after taking arguments from parties involved in the matter.
At the proceedings, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN argued for the APC.
At the centre of the disputed election is the incumbent Governor Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke who stood for the poll on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Adegboyega Oyetola who was the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship candidate.
However, while Oyetola is the appellant in the instant matter in the Supreme Court having lost at the Court of Appeal, Adeleke is the major respondent being the winner of the Court of Appeal decision
Recall that the Osun state Governorship Election petition tribunal in a split decision on January 27 set aside the declaration of Adeleke as the winner of the governorship election in Osun state under the PDP.
The tribunal in its verdict of majority upheld the petition the former governor, Adegboyega Adetola who had contested under the APC.
The tribunal declared that Adeleke did not get majority of the lawful votes adding that the conduct of the elections was not in substantial compliance with the provisions of the electoral Act, 2022.
The tribunal also added that it was established that there was over voting in 744 polling units in the state.
This verdict by the state tribunal followed an appeal filed by Adeleke and the PDP at the court of Appeal in Abuja who on Friday March 24, vacated the tribunal judgment that nullified the election of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.
The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of Justices, held that the appeal Adeleke lodged to challenge his sack by the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, was meritorious.
Aside from setting aside the judgment of the tribunal, the court, in its lead judgment that was delivered by Justice Mohammed Lawal, awarded N500,000 cost against the All Progressive Congress, APC, and its candidate, Gboyega Oyetola
