Learn From Mistakes In Osun Ahead Of General Elections – Oyetola Tells Nigerian Electoral Body, INEC

A former Governor of Osun State, Gboyega Oyetola, has stated that the judgement delivered by the Osun Election Petition Tribunal on Friday will give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the chance to adjust any anomalies before the February general elections.

The Osun State Elections Petitions Tribunal had nullified the election of Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared Oyetola, governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, as the winner of the July 16, 2022, election.

Oyetola has said that there were issues of over-voting in 749 polling units across 10 local government areas of the state. The Justice Tetse Kume-led panel, in its judgement on Friday, said there was over-voting on the examination of BVAS manipulation.

The tribunal declared that INEC should withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Adeleke and issue the same to Oyetola. The majority judgement, which was read by the Chairman, Justice Kume, stated that Oyetola received the majority of lawful votes at 314,931 while Adeleke received 219,666.

Reacting to the judgement, Oyetola said that it showed that INEC needed to learn and check for any anomalies before the general elections.

He stated that the judgement ushers in a new dawn of renewed hope and recovery for Osun State, and that it should be seen as a collective victory for the people of Osun and Nigeria’s democracy.

Oyetola also emphasized that their decision to approach the Tribunal was not to impugn on the integrity of INEC, but to help deepen the electoral system and democracy.

On the other hand, Adeleke said that he would appeal the judgement, which he described as a miscarriage of justice. The judgement of the Osun Election Petition Tribunal serves as a reminder for INEC to review and improve their processes to ensure the integrity of future elections in Nigeria.

Content created and supplied by: Heritaged (via Opera
News )