The court of appeals has reserved its decision on Governor Ademola Adeleke’s governorship election petition appeal in Osun state.
After hearing the arguments and adopting the briefs of the parties involved, Justice Mohammed Shuaibu’s three-member panel set a date to rule on the appeal, according to Channels Television.
Onyechi Ikpeazu, the prosecuting counsel, stated at the hearing on Monday, March 13, that a member of the panel and a chief magistrate did not reveal her position on the judgment that overturned Adeleke’s victory.
Rather, she appended her signature in defiance of the constitution’s position, which required her to air her views on the suit.
Lateef Fagbemi, counsel to Gboyega Oyetola, stated that the action of a panel member did not invalidate the tribunal’s ruling.
According to Fagbemi, the case of over-voting extended beyond 6 polling units and was recorded in 744 polling units across the state, as claimed by the appellant.
Adeleke, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, was declared the winner of the July 16, 2022 election. His victory, however, was annulled due to excessive voting.
Adeleke filed an appeal in February to challenge the nullification of his election victory.
The tribunal’s decision favored Oyetola, the former governor of the state and All Progressives Congress candidate (APC).
During the ruling, two of the tribunal’s three panel members concluded that Oyetola was able to justify over-voting in some polling units.