Governor Ademola Adeleke and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun state, South-west Nigeria, have raised 74 grounds for the appeal against the tribunal judgement that nullified the election which brought him into power.
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Adeleke and the PDP are asking the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgement of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which voided his victory in the July 16, 2022 election.
The tribunal, in the majority judgement read by its chairman, Tertsea Kume, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return from Mr. Adeleke and issue same to former governor Gboyega Oyetola.
The panel based its decision on over-voting in 744 polling units during the election.
The electoral commission, according to a notice of appeal filed on Wednesday by its counsel, Paul Ananaba, is also challenging the judgement.
In their separate notices of appeal, Governor Adeleke and the PDP argued that the judgement contained “errors in law.”
The governor is asking the appellate court to set aside the entire decision of the tribunal and dismiss Mr. Oyetola’s petition for “want of competence and jurisdiction.”
Mr. Adeleke raised 31 grounds of appeal in the notice.
On its part, the PDP, in its notice of appeal, is asking the court to strike out the petition challenging its candidate for “want of jurisdiction.”
The party is praying to the appellate court to affirm Mr. Adeleke as the duly elected governor of the state.
The PDP raised 43 grounds of appeal in the notice that ‘the judgement is against the weight of evidence.’
‘The reliefs sought by the PDP include an order dismissing/striking out EPT/OS/GOV/01/2022 for want of jurisdiction; and to allow the appeal and dismiss petition No. EPT/OS/GOV/01/2022 in its entirety.
‘The PDP further urges the court to affirm the 4th Respondent (Adeleke) as the duly elected governor of Osun state, having won the majority votes cast and satisfying the constitutional requirement in the Osun State Governorship Election of 16th July, 2022,’ the PDP appealed.
Edited by Amaka E. Nliam
