Senator Ademola Adeleke representing PDP
Palpable anxiety has gripped the camps of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State as the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal raised to entertain complaints arising from the September 22, 2018 exercise gives its verdict tomorrow.
The PDP’s candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, and his party had approached the panel contesting the declaration of Governor Gboyega Oyetola of APC as winner of the polls.
He had led the first ballot before losing the second and final after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared that the slim margin was not enough to return him, thus an inconclusive election.
The electoral body later fixed a runoff for September 30, 2018 where the governor eventually emerged victorious.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, Adeleke and the PDP headed for the tribunal, asking it to set Oyetola’s victory aside and declare the petitioner winner.
The Director, Publicity and Strategy of APC, Kunle Oyatomi, said the “party is very optimistic. We expect to win. We have no fear whatsoever to believe that the judgment will be negative.”
On his party, the state coordinator of PDP, Dele Adeleke, said the party expects nothing short of victory. Adeleke also shared same feeling.
Besides, the panel hearing the grievances of the national and state assembly polls in Kaduna State has ordered INEC to immediately make available election materials used for the central senatorial district as well as its outcome for forensic examination by the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) candidate and incumbent senator, Shehu Sani.
The APC standard-bearer, Uba Sani, was declared winner and issued a certificate of return by the electoral umpire.
The prayer was contained in an ex-parte motion filed by Sani’s lawyers and supported by a five-paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Deborah Akinloye.
Consequently, the tribunal granted the application in an order signed by its secretary, Hafsat Suleiman.
However, PRP’s dilemma on choice of candidate to back in weekend’s supplementary election between Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of the APC and his PDP rival, Abba Kabiru Yusuf, has continued.
While a faction of the party pledged loyalty to the sitting governor, the other retreated for Yusuf, who won the first ballot.
The beautiful bride and its candidate, Mallam Sagir Takai, came third in the exercise.
