From Comfort Yakub, Abuja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended the ruling of the Supreme Court affirming the election of Gboyega Oyetola as the Governor of Osun State.
In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu and made available to News Hub Mag! the party congratulated Governor Oyetola and the state chapter of the party, “for successfully defending our legitimate mandate.”
According to the statement the ruling cements the majority status of progressive governors in the country.
Issa-Onilu said:“Undoubtedly a closely- contested election, we commend the apex court’s decision which is in tandem with the choice of the Osun State electorate who voted for continuity and our Party’s Change Agenda.
“The ruling will now allow the Governor Oyetola-led APC administration in Osun State focus on the core business of governance and implementing the many pro-people developmental plans for the state.”
The party sought for the cooperation of all stakeholders in the state to support the Governor Oyetola administration in its bid to develop the state.
The apex court had earlier today affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal which nullified the March 22 judgment of the Osun State election petition tribunal. The tribunal had declared Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party as the winner of the September 2018 election.
The Supreme Court in a split judgment on Friday agreed substantially with the Court of Appeal which ruled that a majority judgment delivered at the tribunal was a nullity.
The court said the judge who had read the majority judgment at the tribunal, Peter Obiora, was evidently absent on February 6, following the documents before the court. It said the failure of Mr Obiora to be present on that day meant that the tribunal lacked the authorities to have given any judgment on the matter.
Two of the seven members of the Supreme Court panel, however, disagreed with the ruling. The Supreme Court ruling was read by Bode Rhodes-Vivour.
