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Tag: ADELEKE

  • We’ll appeal tribunal judgment on Osun governorship, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun says it will appeal the tribunal judgment that declared Sen. Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the September 2018 re-run governorship election in Osun.

    Mr Kunle Oyatomi, the APC Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, said in a statement on Friday in Osogbo that the verdict would not stand superior legal scrutiny.

    “We are going to appeal the judgment.

    “The verdict cannot stand superior legal scrutiny. Therefore we will appeal against it,” Oyatomi said.

    The PDP in the state, however, commended the judiciary on what it called a landmark judgment.

    Mr. Soji Adagunodo, the Osun PDP Chairman, in his reaction, said the victory was for the people of the state.

    Adagunodo said the judgment shows that “we still have men of impeccable character in the judiciary.’’

    ” Kudos to the Nigerian judiciary and this shows that we still have men of impeccable character in the judiciary.

    “Truly, the judiciary is the last hope of common man,’’ Adagunodo said.

    Adagunodo said since the APC had decided to appeal the judgment, PDP would await the outcome at the appellate court.

    Read Also: Atiku, Obi rejoice with Adeleke over Tribunal ruling

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja had on Friday declared Adeleke winner.

    The three-member panel said during its ruling that the rerun election that held on Sept. 27, 2018, was illegal.

    The tribunal, therefore, deducted the votes scored by the APC candidate, Gboyega Oyetola, in the rerun after declaring the rerun illegal.

    The tribunal said Adeleke won the election at the first ballot on Sept. 22 and the rerun that INEC devised to reach a final conclusion a week later was illegal.

    “The declaration of Oyetola is null and void,” the tribunal ruled in a majority decision with one member dissenting.

  • Atiku, Obi rejoice with Adeleke over Tribunal ruling

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Peter Obi have rejoiced with Senator Ademola Adeleke, the party’s governorship candidate in the Osun September 28 elections.

    Adeleke was declared winner by the Osun Governorship Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Friday.

    Atiku, on his verified Twitter handle @Atiku, the former Vice President also praised the judiciary for coming to the rescue of the common man.

    Read Also: Mandate returned, says Davido on Osun tribunal ruling

    He wrote: “Truly, the judiciary is the last hope of the common man and the defender of our democracy. Congratulations Sen Demola Adeleke, @IsiakaAdeleke1.”

    Obi, on his twitter handle @PeterObi, wrote: “Congratulations Senator Ademola Adeleke @IsiakaAdeleke1. Power to the People!”

  • Mandate returned, says Davido on Osun tribunal ruling

    Music super star David Adeleke, fondly called Davido, has reacted to the judgement of the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal.

    “Mandate returned,” he wrote on his Instagam page, in reaction to the declaration of his uncle, Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the 2018 governorship election in the state.

    Adeleke was the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the election but Governor Gboyega Isiaka was returned winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    Read Also: Tribunal declares Adeleke winner of Osun election

    The Davido wrote, “God no dey sleep!!! Mandate returned!!! Imole ti de!! Osun I’m on my way!!”

    On his Twitter handle, he shared a photo from the 2018 campaign trail and tweeted, “Imole ti de!!!!!! Congratulations to the great people of Osun State!”

  • Tribunal declares Adeleke winner of Osun election

    The Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has declared Ademola Adeleke, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party as winner of the September 2018 election in the state.

    The 3-man tribunal upheld the petitions filed by Adeleke and the PDP, challenging the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Gboyega Oyetola at the September 2018 governorship election.

    The tribunal had earlier dismissed the objections of the APC and Oyetola. It said Adeleke’s petition has merit. The tribunal also declared the rerun election as illegal.

    NAN reports that the PDP and Adeleke, had filed a petition asking the tribunal to declare that he polled the highest lawful votes and should be declared the winner.

    But Oyetola, APC and INEC had filed their notices of preliminary objection contending among others that the petition was incompetent and that the court lacked jurisdiction.

    A three -member panel of the tribunal, dismissed the objections filed by Gov. Oyetola, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Both Adeleke and the PDP in their different petitions had urged the tribunal to declare that he scored the highest lawful votes in the election and should be declared as winner.

    However, Oyetola, APC and INEC filed their notices of preliminary objection against the petition on the grounds that the petition is incompetent adding that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the petition.

    Delivering the‎ lead ruling of the three-man tribunal, Chairman Ibrahim Sirajo, held that the objections were misconceived and struck them out.

    The Tribunal held that the CTC should and must be an exact replica of the EC8A pink copies.

    The discrepancies must therefore be explained and justified by INEC.

    In this instance, the tribunal held, INEC failed to explain nor justify the alterations and that they failed to call any witness to justify the alterations.

    The tribunal held that the attempt to explain the alterations on the basis of mere corrections of errors is not acceptable and the fact that the said errors were consistently made in the disputed areas means it was a deliberate action taken.

  • Updated: Tribunal sacks Osun Governor, declares Adeleke winner

    *Voids results in 17 polling units

    The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal has voided the election of Adegboyega Oyetola as governor of Osun State.

    In a two-to-one split decision by a three-man panel, the tribunal declared Senator Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the election

    Read Also: Tribunal declares Osun gov re-run election illegal

    Justice Peter Obiora, who read the lead judgement, voided the supplementary election held on September 27, 2018 on the ground that the state returning officer has no power to have cancelled election in seven polling units in four Local Government and order a rerun.

    The tribunal, in the majority judgment, also cancelled results from 17 polling units on grounds of substantial non-compliance with Electoral Act.

    Details shortly

  • Adeleke promised voters money, witness tells Osun tribunal

    The Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal heard yesterday how the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, allegedly promised to bribe the electorate with money while he was campaigning for the rerun on September 27, last year.

    A witness, Kazeem Oladejo, told the tribunal that Adeleke visited his community, Idi-Iya in Orolu Local Government Area, to campaign.

    He said the PDP candidate allegedly promised openly to give the people money, if they voted for him.

    Oladejo, who was the second witness of the All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke while being cross-examined by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who led the legal team of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun State governor).

    Olanipekun asked the witness if Adekele visited his (witness’) community between September 22, last year, (when the election proper was held) and on September 27, (when the rerun was held).

    The witness said: “In between the first election and when the rerun was conducted, the first petitioner (Adeleke) came to my village to canvass for votes. He came to our town, dancing.

    “He went to our oba’s palace and went around the town, dancing and campaigning, saying: ‘I am coming fully now’. Many big Nigerians are supporting me, like Femi Otedola and Dangote. Vote for me and I will give you money. Gbagam! I will give you dollars. Gbagam! I will give you Pound sterling. Gbagam! I will give you Euro. Gbagam!’

    “He (Adeleke) said it categorically that Femi Otedola and Dangote gave him money. He mentioned all kinds of money, like dollars, Pound sterling and Euro.

    “He danced around the town and danced out of the town while he was leaving after the campaign.”

    As the witness spoke, a member of the tribunal took note, while the audience erupted in laughter, with some repeating the word: Gbagam.

    Adeleke and the PDP are challenging the outcome of the last governorship election in Osun State, won by APC’s candidate, Oyetola.

    Earlier, while being led in evidence by APC’s lawyer Abiodun Layonu (SAN), Oladejo, (who was listed as the respondent’s 13th witness (but second for the third respondent – APC), said he acted as Polling Unit agent for the APC in Unit 4, Ward 8, Idi-Iya Village, Orolu Local Government Area.

    He acknowledged signing a written deposition and asked the tribunal to accept the deposition as his evidence before it.

    Under cross-examination by lawyer to the first respondent, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Adesina Agbede, the witness said he stood by the content in his written deposition.

    And the tribunal admitted same as his oral evidence in the matter.

    Under cross-examination by lawyer to Adeleke and PDP, Nathaniel Oke (SAN), the witness said he did not include the information about how the PDP candidate promised to bribe the electorate, in his written deposition.

    When asked by Oke whether or not the election was monitored by observers, Oladejo said there were many local and foreign observers at his polling unit.

    The first APC’s witness for the day (listed as R12), was Soji Ayoola, who said he is a teacher and the party’s agent in Unit 8, Ward 9 at Isundurin in Ejigbo Local Government Area.

    Led in evidence by Layonu, the witness adopted his written statement, which the tribunal admitted in evidence.

    Under cross-examination by Agbede, the witness said his polling unit was won by the PDP with 168 votes as against APC’s 86 votes.

    He said the election was held in accordance with the required standard, adding that he was accredited before being allowed to vote.

    Layonu said he voted once and that at the close of ballot, the results were announced to the hearing of all.

    He said: “Before the election, all the materials were shown to us and the ballot papers were counted at the end of the election.”

    The witness said party agents in his polling unit signed the result sheet and a pink copy of the result sheets was handed to each of the agents.

    Under cross-examination by Olanipekun, the witness confirmed that the PDP won in the unit where he served as agent.

    Ayoola said the votes were already sorted out, counted and announced before the information was entered into the Form EC8A (the result sheet from his polling unit).

    The witness, who read from the Form EC8A, noted that the total number of issued ballot papers for his polling unit were 714 while the total number of used and unused ballot papers stood 711, which was less than the number issued.

    He said the total number of unused ballot papers was 361 while 350 was the total number of used ballot papers.

    Ayoola said while the total number of used and unused ballot papers in his polling unit amounted to 711, the result sheet contained 714 as the total number of allocated ballot papers.

    According to him, 48 political parties participated in the election and agents of the parties signed the result sheets after the election.

    He said the result sheets, which all the agents signed, had carbon copies, which were attached to them.

    At that point, Olanipekun asked the witness to demonstrate how he signed the result sheets. The witness was provided with a copy of the result sheet and a carbon paper, on which he signed three times.

    Olanipekun tendered the specimen of the witness’ signature, which the tribunal admitted in evidence and marked as Exhibit R169A.

    At the conclusion of Oladejo’s testimony, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), who led the APC’s legal team, told the tribunal that the third respondent had decided to close its case after calling its second witness.

    Following an agreement by parties, tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo directed the respondents (INEC, Oyetola and APC) to file their written addresses within 10 days.

    He asked the petitioners to file their written addresses within seven days after the respondents have filed and served them, following which the respondents will, again have five days, within which to file their written reply on point of law.

    The tribunal chairman adjourned till March 7 for parties to adopt their final written addresses.

  • Osun: PDP, Adeleke’s witnesses allege over-voting

    Proceedings resumed on Monday before the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja with the petitioners calling 10 more witnesses.

    The petitioners – the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke – are contesting the outcome of the election won by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adegboyega Oyetola.

    The 10 witnesses called on Monday by the petitioners brought to 34 the number of witnesses so far called by the petitioners, who planned to call over 100.

    All the witnesses called on Monday, most of who were barely literate artisans, alleged that there were over-voting at the polling units where they served as agents of the PDP.

    Some of the witnesses could not read the statements they claimed to have signed and adopted before the tribunal on Monday as their evidence in chief in the case.

    The witnesses, most of whom could also not express themselves fluently in English language, were however unable to substantiate their allegations of over-voting.

    When asked, under cross-examination, to provide proof of their claimed over-voting, the witnesses would point to some alterations in the result sheets tendered before the court.

    When reminded, by respondents’ lawyers, that they signed the said result sheets on their own volition, the witnesses would claim to have signed after protesting.

    At a point, some of the witnesses became unruly as they refused to answer questions under cross-examination, thereby necessitating occasional intervention by tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo.

    Some of the witnesses, also confessed, under cross-examination, that they were not the actual PDP’s agents, whose names were submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before the election.

    One of the witnesses, Mrs. Victoria Fadeke Alo admitted that it was actually another agent – Ilesanmi Samson Taiwo – who signed the result sheet as agent of the PDP in the polling unit she claimed to have represented the party.

    Under cross-examination by Wole Olanipekun (SAN) who appeared for Oyetola, Mrs Alo admitted that she was not the Ilesanmi Samson Taiwo, whose name appeared on the result sheet as the PDP agent.

    Another witness, Oyedokun Wasiu Soyode, who said he acted as PDP agent at Polling Unit 9, Ward 5 in Ejigbo Local Government also admitted not being the actual agent whose name was sent to INEC.

    Soyode, who was cross-examined by John Baiyeshea (SAN), who took over from Olanipekun, said his name was not on the list of party agent sent to INEC.

    He said it was his brother, Lateef Taiwo, who was the original agent whose name was sent to INEC, but took ill on the election day and was later admitted in the hospital.

    He said the development informed why he was asked to take his brother’s place.

    Also, Shehu Mufutau Alani , who said he acted as PDP agent in Unit 8, Ward 7, Iwo Local Government, also admitted not being the party agent, whose name was submitted to INEC.

    He said one Fadirat Isiaka, whose name was submitted fell sick few day before the election, a development that informed his choice as a replacement.

    Read Also: Senate to NLC: shelve minimum wage strike

    Under cross-examination by lawyer to the APC, Lasun Sanusi (SAN), Ajani said his lawyer wrote the witness’s statement, which he signed.

    He denied knowledge of where the lawyer got the information he wrote on the statement.

    Oyedele Waliu Ayinla, who said he acted as PDP agent at Unit 002, Ward 9 in Egbedore Local Government, could not read his statement when asked to read a portion of it.

    He was the petitioners’ last witness for the day. Further hearing continues Tuesday, Jan. 8.

  • ENTERTAINERS OF THE YEAR 2018: Enter Fayose and Adeleke

    ONE was the son of a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) pastor; the other’s father was a senator. Ayodele Peter Fayose, the preacher’s son, became a governor, was removed in controversial circumstances but staged a comeback years later by uprooting an incumbent to occupy the office for a final term of four years. His co-winner slot of our Entertainer of the Year, Ademola Jackson Adeleke, was busy having fun in Atlanta, United States and elsewhere. The death of his brother, Isiaka Adeleke, who was a former governor of Osun State and senator, pushed him into public consciousness and against all odds, he ran to replace his brother in the Senate and won convincingly. Months later he almost won the governorship election.

    No political figure entertained Nigerians like the duo this year. It will take years before Nigerians forget Fayose’s live performance on national television. On the show, he made a hit record ‘I am in pains. I’m in severe pains.’ As part of the performance, he had a neck brace on. His hand was also in brace and hung on the ‘sick’ neck. Not on his shoulder! One or two tears dropped as he tried unconvincingly to tell the world that his pains were inflicted by police who tear-gassed him and slapped him to prevent him from campaigning for Prof. Kolapo Eleka to succeed him. His facial expression was good— an Oscars act!

    The theatrics broke the internet. Online clips of him shedding tears three days to the election appeared like the act of Peter the Rock to curry last-minute electoral favour for Eleka, whom he went all out to back financially and otherwise. It was the first time many saw a wailing Excellency. He cut the image of a toddler deprived of a yummy ice cream.  He sought the international community to save Ekiti from the siege of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Peter the Rock’s viral performance came not long after he was said to have lost consciousness and rushed to the hospital! Thanks to Fayose, jesters got ready-made comic material for online and offline usage. Various versions of “Severe Pain” video clips took over the cyber space by storm and Nigerians had good materials to bring smile to their faces.

    Unlike Fayose, Adeleke, aka the Dancing Senator, did not have to perfect theatrical skills, he simply dazzled all with his natural ability to twist almost all parts of his body rhythmically. Long before he was shoved into the political space, those close to him, especially family members, were privy to this great skill that could earn him millions of dollars in the American entertainment industry! Some who later abused him because of this skill once enjoyed him entertaining them on political hustling. But he was marked when he crossed the line and sought power when all he was good at in their estimation was to just dance, dance and dance and make them forget their sorrow.

    The uninitiated obviously do not know how so good is he that his super star nephew, Davido, screamed “If you dance like Jackson, omo iyen ko kan mi o” in his song titled “Dami Duro”. Davido was not acknowledging the dancing skill of the late Michael Jackson in that song; he was simply paying homage to the twirling wizard who God made his uncle.

    This son of an Ede man and an Igbo mother, who was born May 13, 1960 in Enugu, was not interested in debates and all those intellectual endeavours while campaigning to be Osun State governor. He was just interested in entertaining his way, sorry, dancing his way to the Government House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo!  He just wanted to shock all with his ‘gbagaun’ ways. ‘Gbagaun’ is a slang he uses to conclude most discussions and to depict his belief that the Government House is his for the taking. What a spectacle it would have been if he had been sworn-in as governor: Davido will be singing and Jackson will be twerking to the seat of power. He still believes the court will make him governor and the great dance will still take place.

    Until then, Nigerians will not remember him for one reason only. Not because of his trial over alleged examination malpractice, but because of his feet-and-body-twisting skill. This is the only factor that will keep him in our minds even into the New Year.

    Long live Fayose, long live Adeleke—our joint winner of the much-coveted Entertainers of the Year! Step forward and claim your crown.

  • Osun election tribunal: Adeleke’s, PDP’s witnesses can’t read own statements

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, had a bad outing yesterday at the sitting of the tribunal hearing the petition they filed against the outcome of the election.

    Most of the nine witnesses they called could not communicate effectively in English language, could not read the statements they claimed they wrote and could not answer questions logically.

    Some of the witnesses also claimed to have multiple signatures, samples of which the tribunal later admitted in evidence.

    The tribunal chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, had to intervene intermittently, to explain questions to the witnesses in pidgin English before they could respond.

    The witnesses, who claimed to have acted as PDP agents during the election, were led in evidence by petitioners’ lawyer, Nathaniel Oke (SAN).

    They were cross-examined by respondents’ lawyers, including Lasco Pwahomdi, for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Aboidun Owonikoko (SAN), for Adegboyega Oyetola and Lasun Sanusi (SAN), for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ariyo Oladiti, who testified as the petitioners’ fourth witness – the first yesterday – said he was PDP’s agent at Polling Unit 10, Ward 7, Atakunmosa West Local Government Area.

    During cross-examination by Pwahomdi, he was asked to explain irregularities in his signatures in his written deposition and the result sheet.

    Oladiti said he had multiple signatures, admitting that the signatures in both documents were not similar.

    The witness was later asked to sign a specimen of his different signatures on plane sheets, which the tribunal admitted in evidence.

    The second witness, Ado Garba (PW5), also claimed to have multiple signatures, samples of which were admitted by the tribunal.

    While being led in evidence by Oke, another witness Mumuni Salaudeen said he acted as PDP’s agent in Unit 11, Ward 11 in Osogbo Local Government Area.

    He claimed to have signed a written deposition on October 16 at the tribunal’s registry in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

    But when Oke asked him if he wanted the written deposition to be admitted as his evidence before the tribunal, the witness said no.

    Oke repeated the question about two more times, but the witness insisted on his earlier response.

    Realising that the witness did not understand the question or grasp its import, the tribunal chairman, following a request by Oke, admitted the written deposition.

    Read also: ‘Exam malpractices’: Prosecution raises charges against Adeleke, others

    When asked to read part of his written deposition, the witness took the document and kept staring at it.

    When Justice Sirajo asked him what the problem was, Salaudeen said he could not read and write in English.

    Wakili Animashahun, who was the last witness for the day (PW12), exhibited similar attributes.

    He claimed to have multiple signatures and could not answer questions logically.

    When asked if the results in his polling unit were announced by the Presiding Officer before it was recorded in the results sheet, the witness said no.

    His response contradicted his claim in his written deposition, which he earlier admitted to have signed, and which the tribunal admitted.

    When Oke attempted to correct his witness’ error, tribunal chairman overruled him, saying: “It was a witness’ inalienable right to contradict himself.”

    Further hearing resumes today.

  • ‘Exam malpractices’: Prosecution raises charges against Adeleke, others

    The prosecution in alleged examination malpractices charge against Senator Ademola Adeleke (Osun State) and four others has raised the number of counts in the charge – from four to seven.

    The five defendants were re-arraigned yesterday before a Federal High Court in Abuja on the amended charge to which they pleaded not guilty.

    Charged with Adeleke, in the charge filed by the police, are: Sikiru Adeleke, the senator’s relation; Alhaji Aregbesola Muftau, the head teacher of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School); Gbadamosi Ojo, the school’s Registrar and Dare Samuel Olutope, a teacher in the school.

    The prosecution initially accused the defendants of engaging in examination malpractices by impersonating and registering Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke as students of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School in Ojo-Aro, Osun State, for the National Examination Council (NECO) June/July 2017 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) in February 2017.

    Besides the counts, the defendants are further accused of fraudulently registering Ademola and Sikiru Adeleke for the examination “and pursuant to the abetment awarded them seven credits, one pass and five credits and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 10(a) and punishable under Section 3 of the Examination Malpractices Act, Cap. E15, LFN, 2004.”

    The two Adelekes – the first and second defendants – are equally accused of falsely presenting themselves “as students of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School when they fraudulently registered as internal students of the school in the June/July 2017 NECO and, having registered, conspired with unknown persons, now at large, to write the examination for them”.

    The prosecution said the alleged offences are contrary to and punishable under the various provisions of the Examination Malpractices Act, Cap. E15, LFN, 2004.

    After their re-arraignment yesterday, Justice I. E. Ekwo asked the defendants to remain on the bail earlier granted them.

    The judge adjourned till February 12 for commencement of trial.

    The defendants were earlier arraigned on October 31.