Oyetola Is Yet To Congratulate Me – Adeleke

The incumbent Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke has said that the immediate past governor of the state, Gboyega Oyetola, has not congratulated him after his victory at the Appeal Court.

CityMirrorNews had last Friday reported that the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, set aside the tribunal judgment that nullified the election of Adeleke as governor of the state.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Mohammed Lawal, held that the appeal lodged by Adeleke to challenge his sack by the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal was meritorious.

The sum of N500,00 was granted by the court as a cost against the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its candidate, Oyetola.

During the ruling, the justice resolved that the preponderance of proof that there was over-voting in the elections rested on the petitioner.

The court also maintained that “the party alleging non-compliance with the electoral act must prove its case without merely relying on the weakness of the other party.”

Carrying out judgment, Justice Mohammed Shaibu overruled the judgment of the governorship election tribunal that nullified the outcome of the July governorship polls.

The three-man board nullified the tribunal’s order which directed that a Certificate of Return be withdrawn from Adeleke and issued to his predecessor and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Oyetola.

The Court of Appeal set aside the tribunal judgement, proclaiming Adeleke as the actual winner and governor of Osun State.

Speaking on Arise TV’s Morning show, Governor Adeleke said he was ready to work with Oyetola which is yet to reach him.

According to Adeleke, “Immediately after the news of the Appeal Court (judgement), I tried to reach out, I called him, the former Governor Oyetola to let us forge ahead to move Osun forward, but up till now, he has not called me to congratulate me and I’m still hoping that he will do that because we don’t have any other state than Osun State here.

“So, I’m ready, my hands are open, let’s come together and move Osun State forward.”

“Well let me correct it, I did not say I put a call to him, what I said is I’m still expecting him to call me so that he can congratulate me, and if he wants to do otherwise and go ahead to the Supreme Court, he has the right to do that,” the governor said.

Adeleke also added that, he was not afraid of the Supreme Court, saying he had his people and God on his side.