Supreme court dismisses suit challenging Oyetola’s participation in Osun election

The supreme court has affirmed the candidature of Gboyega Oyetola in the Osun state governorship election held on July 16, 2022.

A five-member panel of the apex court led by Centus Nweze, on Thursday, held that the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lacked merit and directed Kehinde Ogunwumiju, the counsel to the PDP, to withdraw it.

In September, Emeka Nwite, judge of a federal high court in Abuja, voided the nomination of Oyetola and his deputy.

Nwite, in his judgment, held that the nomination of Oyetola and his deputy, was unlawful and unconstitutional because Mai Mala Buni, who submitted their names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), violated the provisions of section 183 of the constitution and section 82(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.

However, in December, the Abuja court of appeal set aside the judgement of the trial court and affirmed Oyetola’s nomination as the governorship candidate of the APC.

Not satisfied, the PDP went to the supreme court.

Dismissing the suit on Thursday, the supreme court held that the PDP could not, under the law,  question the process leading to the emergence of Oyetola and Alabi as candidates of the APC.

Meanwhile, the Osun state governorship elections petitions tribunal on Friday sacked Ademola Adeleke as the state governor.

In August 2022, Oyetola and the APC petitioned the tribunal to challenge Adeleke’s victory in the election.

Among several issues, Oyetola contended that there was overvoting in 749 polling units across 10 LGAs of the state.

Delivering judgment, two out of the three-member of the tribunal held that the petitioner was able to prove that there was indeed over-voting in some of the polling units.

Consequently, the majority judgment of the tribunal ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Adeleke and issue a fresh one to Oyetola as the duly elected governor.