Adeleke says Supreme Court victory will spur him on to deliver more for Osun people

GOVERNOR Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has said that his reaffirmation by the Supreme Court of Nigeria earlier on today will spur him on to deliver the dividends of democracy for the people by offering the expanded delivery of good governance.

On July 16 last year, Governor Adeleke was declared the winner of the Osun State gubernatorial elections, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) giving him got a total of 403,371 votes beating the then incumbent Gboyega Oyetola who got 375,027 votes. However, Governor Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) took the matter to the election petitions tribunal and won a favourable decision on January 27 this year.

Inec, however issued a Notice of Appeal dated January 30 2023, filed before the Court of Appeal, Akure Division. In March this year,  sitting in Abuja, the Court of Appeal, set aside the earlier tribunal judgment in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Mohammed Lawal.

However, the matter did not end there as Governor Oyetola went to the Supreme Court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel, gave a final ruling on the matter today.  In its judgement, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal by Governor Oyetola, saying that he  predicated all his allegations against the election on baseless and unfounded hearsay.

Reacting to the judgement, Governor Adeleke said he seeks the support and cooperation of all Osun residents and citizens irrespective of party affiliation. He said: “My Lord Justices, your affirmation of the truth and people’s will consolidates and strengthens our democracy.

"On behalf of the Osun people, we appreciate you and we adore your love for justice and equity. To us, stakeholders in the Osun project, be assured that the revalidation of our mandate is a challenge, a call to duty and a fresh demand for more dividends of democracy.

“I commit myself to even more expanded delivery of good governance. In me, you find the truthful pro-people governor. I seek the support and cooperation of all Osun residents and citizens, irrespective of party affiliation. This is our state, and we must join hands to develop it.”