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The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has extended an olive branch to the immediate past governor, Gboyega Oyetola, asking him to join hands with him in building the state together.
Adeleke made the call after the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja set aside the judgement of the Osun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that annulled the election of Adeleke during the July 16, 2022, Osun governorship poll.
The Justice Mohammed Lawal-led three-member panel in a unanimous decision held that Adeleke’s appeal to challenge the tribunal judgment that sacked him from office was “meritorious”.
The PUNCH reports that the court also held that the sum of N500,000 is awarded as a cost against the APC and Oyetola. During the ruling, the Justice resolved that the preponderance of proof that there was over-voting in the elections rested on the petitioner and not the defendant.
Reacting to the judgement in a statement on Friday, Adeleke asked Oyetola to join hands with him in building the state.
“Let me use this opportunity to extend sincere hands of fellowship to former Governor Oyetola and the APC. Let’s build the state together. Let us unite for the good of our people. The State needs leaders across party lines to join hands for robust and accelerated development of the state.
“As brothers and sisters, we are all requested to start the process of healing. Forget party politics as the election is over. All members of the political class in Osun state should join hands with me to take our state to greater heights,” Adeleke said in a statement he personally signed.
The statement added, “I thank God Almighty and our good people of Osun state. I dedicate this victory to God and my people. This judgement confirmed my earlier position that the judgement of the Tribunal is a miscarriage of Justice. The judiciary has right the wrongs of the lower Court. This has rekindled the confidence of the nation in the integrity of the judiciary as the stabiliser of the judiciary and the last hope of the common man.
“I am particularly glad that the Court of Appeal has ruled that the BVAS machine and voters register are the primary sources, not the report from the server. This has strengthened our democracy and removed a time bomb which the judgement of the Tribunal had planted for our democracy.
” I appreciate Osun people for standing by me and my party through repeated validation of my governorship mandate at the recent federal and state elections. My party won three straight elections from July 16th 2022 to the March 18th ,2023. It was a resounding vote of confidence in my governorship by the people of Osun state. The judiciary has now confirmed the will of the people that I am the validly elected Governor of my state.
” My appreciation goes to the civil servants, artisans, market people, clerics, students, women and youth. Osun people defended the mandate from 2022 to date.
“I commend the judiciary for resisting all pressure. Rule of law is strengthened when judgement affirms the will of the people. On behalf of Osun people and my party, the PDP, we appreciate the judiciary and the men of conscience on the bar and the bench.”
