The Osun State Court of Appeal has reserved judgment for today on the appeal filed by the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, over his dismissal by the Osun State Election Petitions Tribunal.
The Tribunal had nullified Adeleke’s election victory and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to the immediate past Governor, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the duly elected governor of the state.
The judgment was delivered in a split decision, with a member of the three-man panel disagreeing, and this decision has caused widespread protests across the state.
Adeleke and INEC filed separate appeals, with Adeleke’s legal team arguing that the tribunal erred in law and displayed bias against the appellant when it made reference to his dance at his inauguration as Governor of Osun State, which was never an issue before the lower tribunal.
Today’s judgment will determine whether Adeleke will be affirmed as the duly elected governor of Osun State, or whether the mandate belongs to his rival and former Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola.