The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has congratulated the candidate of the Congress of All Progressives in the last gubernatorial elections in the state of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, for his victory in the electoral court.
Gbajabiamila said the court’s verdict was “a welcome development and a fair deal” for the Osun people who supported Oyetola to return for a second term as governor.
He said this according to a statement issued by Special Adviser to Media and Publicity Spokesperson Lanre Lasisi titled ‘Osun Electoral Tribunal Verdict: Gbajabiamila congratulates Oyetola, says people’s mandate finally restored.’
The Electoral Petitions Court that heard Oyetola’s petition against the victory of Ademola Adeleke of the Popular Democratic Party on Friday annulled the result of the July 16 Osun gubernatorial election.
Judge Tetsea Kume, in rendering a majority decision, declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission did not materially comply with the constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Law.
He later deduced the observed overvoting from the votes scored by the candidates and stated that Oyetola won the election with 314,921 votes, while Adeleke dropped to 290,266.
He ordered INEC to withdraw Adeleke’s return certificate and issue another to Oyetola, which obtained the majority of legal votes.
The Spokesman said with the ruling, APC remains the party to beat at all times, especially during the upcoming general election.
Gbajabiamila said the verdict vindicated the people of Osun and called on all APC members in Osun and across the country to continue to abide by the law and prepare for the general election.
The spokesman said he was happy that the governorate electoral court was convinced that there were indeed anomalies during the election, which is why he restored the people’s mandate.
Gbajabiamila urged Oyetola to be magnanimous in victory at the end of the whole process.
