The Supreme Court in a split judgment of five to two on Friday upheld the election Gov Adeboyega Oyetola of Osun.
In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour,on behalf of the five justices in favour, the court held that the proceedings and judgment of the trial tribunal are a nullity on the grounds that Justice J. Obiora was absent on Feb. 26.
The two desenting justices are Justice Kumai Akaah and Justice Paul Galinje.
NAN reports that the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Ademola Adeleke, had approached the apex court following the decision of the appeal court to pronounce Gov. Oyetola as the winner of the election.
Adeleke prayed the court to uphold the ruling of the Osun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that pronounced him as the legal winner of the election and discard the judgment by the appeal court.
Oyetola’s lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) together with the counsel representing the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr Yusuf Ali (SAN), and the All Progressives Congress counsel, Olumide Olujinmi, all urged the apex court to dismiss the appeal and retain Oyetola as the governor.
Details later ……..
