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Tag: Ademola Adeleke

  • Osun Speaker felicitates with governor-elect over victory

    The Speaker, Osun state House of Assembly, Mr Najeem Salaam, on Friday congratulated the governor-elect, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola on his victory at the just concluded governorship election in the state .

    Salaam made the felicitation in a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Mr. Goke Butika, in Osogbo, saying the mandate given to the Oyetola, should challenge him to give his best to the people of the state.

    He said the governor-elect is expected to deliver more in terms of democracy dividends and infrastructure development in addition to enhancing human capital development.

    He said the people of the state had elected Oyetola considering the achievements and challenges confronting the outgoing administration, urging the governor-elect to `hit the ground running.’

    He expressed confidence that the governor elect will deliver on his mandate in the light his wealth of experience as the immediate past Chief of Staff.

    Read Also: Osun Guber election: Buhari congratulates APC, Oyetola

    Salaam also lauded the courage of Osun people in keeping faith with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that those who partook in the electoral process had enriched democracy in one way or the other.

    He tasked candidates of opposition parties to renew their commitment to the development and collective interest of the state by working with the current and incoming government through a “constructive engagement”.

    He commended Sen. Ademola Adeleke, Sen. Iyiola Omisore, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and others for their sportsmanship while the electioneering lasted.

    He lauded their good showing at the polls, urging them to engage the incoming administration in a constructive criticism that would further enhance the development of Osun.

  • PDP goes to court over Osun election

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said it’s going to court to challenge the inconclusive verdict passed on last Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the election, following the cancellation of the service in some local government areas.

    But in a statement on Monday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party insisted that the election was concluded and results announced in all polling and the collation centers.

    According the PDP, that signified the lawful conclusion of the election, thus removing INEC’s powers to declare the election inconclusive.

    The statement said, “Our electoral law is clear that once an election result is declared, INEC is bound to return a winner. INEC, in trying to play the card of the defeated All Progressives Congress (APC), contravened the law by refusing to announce a return, even when the declared results have thrown up a winner.

    “Section 69 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) states that inter-alia “in an election to the office of the President or governor whether or not contested and in any contested election to any other elective office, the result shall be ascertained by counting the votes cast for each candidate and subject to the provisions of sections 133, 134 and 179 of the constitution, the candidate that receives the highest number of votes shall be declared elected by the appropriate Returning Officer”.

    Read Also: ‘PDP’s call for result selfish’

    “Concurrently, Section 179 (2), (a) (b) of the constitution directly prescribes that “a candidate for an election to the office of Governor of a State shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being two or more candidates – (a) he has the highest number of votes cast at the election; and (b) he has not less than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas in the State.

    “INEC’s action in declaring a concluded election as inconclusive is therefore an annulment, totally duplicitous, constitutionally illegal, ultra-vires and as such null and void”.

    The PDP called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Osun State Governorship Election Returning Officer, Prof. Joseph Fuwape, for “succumbing to the pressure of the APC” and declaring a decided election as inconclusive.

    “We demand that INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu immediately summon the courage to do the needful by declaring our candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, as winner.

    “It is completely ludicrous, that INEC and the APC are now attempting to divert the narrative from the substance of the election by making outlandish allegations against the PDP and lobbying Civil Society Organizations and Electoral Observers to validate their illegality.

    “Moreover, even if the Osun governorship election is conducted over and over again, the PDP will still win as the people of the state have chosen the PDP and its candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    “Nevertheless, we insist that the September 22, 2018 election, under our laws, is conclusive and our candidate must be declared winner”

  • Osun Poll: CSO commends high voter turnout

    Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, Chairman, Partners for Electoral Reforms, a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), has commended the high turnout of voters in the ongoing governorship election in Osun.

    Nwagwu, who is monitoring the election in the state, made the commendation in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Saturday.

    He said that between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. accreditation and voting had already commenced as people trooped out in orderly manner to exercise their franchise.

    “We are coming out from Ife now, accreditation and voting is ongoing. The punctuality is pretty nice in the areas that we have observed between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.

    “But generally, people are coming out to vote and the climate is calm and relatively peaceful,’’ he said.

    The chairman also commended the relative peaceful atmosphere under which the process is going on.

    He, therefore, expressed the need to encourage the people of the state to continue to maintain the maturity they put in during the campaigns and the poll and remain peaceful.

    He expressed optimism that the outcome of the election would reflect the will and aspirations of a greater percentage of the people.

    Read Also: Osun Decides: Massive turnout in Ife

    “It is good to continue to encourage the people of Osun to maintain the maturity that they put in during the campaigns and ensure that they remain peaceful.

    “We hope that the outcome of the election reflects the will and aspirations of a greater percentage of Osun people, ’he said.

    News Agency of Nigeria reports that a heavy security cordon was thrown on the state with massive deployment of policemen and other security personnel including soldiers who were sighted on the outskirts of the state capital.

    News Agency of Nigeria also reports that there are 3,010 Polling Units and 755 Polling Points spread across the three senatorial districts and 30 local governments’ areas of the state.

    Although INEC registered a total of 1,682,495 voters, some 400,000 Permanent Voters Cards remained uncollected as at Friday.

    News Agency of Nigeria also reports that although 48 parties are participating in the election, the frontline candidates are Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples, Democratic Party and Iyiola Omisore of the Social Democratic (SDP).

  • Victory is assured, says Adeleke

    After casting his vote, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ademola Adeleke, has assured his supporters that, if he is not rigged out by the authorities in charge of the process, he is sure of victory.

    Adeleke who arrived exactly 8am at his polling unit 009, Ward 2, Abogunde/Sagba registration area, Ede North, was the first to vote at the unit.

    The Card Reader Machine had initially difficulties authenticating his fingerprints, but after about five minutes, he succeeded in doing his accreditation.

    The PDP flag bearer who voted at about 8.07am told reporters afterwards that so far everything was proceeding normally and that if it continues that way he is sure of victory.

    He said attempts were made to frustrate his bid, to destabilise him ahead of the election, but everything failed in the end.

    Buoyed by the support he is getting from his constituency in Ede, Senator Adeleke who surprisingly emerged winner of the Osun West senatorial by-election in July 2017 fancies himself as the next governor of Osun State.

    Adeleke became actively involved in partisan politics when he contested and won the by-election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  after the death of his elder brother, former Governor Isiaka Adeleke, then a serving senator, in April 2017.

    Read Also: Live Updates: Osun 2018 governorship election

    Ademola Adeleke had defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, when he suspected that the ruling APC in Osun State would deny him its ticket for the contest.

    He proved book makers wrong when he won the election which was conducted on July 23, 2017. Everyone had expected the APC to win the election.

  • Buhari halts Adeleke’s invitation by IGP

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday ordered the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to stop the invitation of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship aspirant in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    The police force was inviting him to the force headquarters to answer questions on alleged Examination Malpractice, Criminal Conspiracy, Impersonation, Breach of Duty, Aiding and Abetting.

    But a Presidency source who pleaded for anonymity, confirmed the latest development to newsmen on Wednesday.

    Read Also: Exam Malpractice: Police invite Adeleke

    According to him, Buhari ordered that Adeleke should not be invited until after Saturday’s election.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood, had in a statement invited Adeleke and four others namely; Mr. Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr. Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr. Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime) to report to the Special Investigation Panel, Force Headquarters, Abuja immediately for arraignment in court.

  • Exam Malpractice: Police invite Adeleke

    The Nigeria Police Force has asked the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the September 22nd, 2018 governorship election in Osun State to report to Special Investigation Panel at the Force Headquarters in Abuja immediately.

    Also invited are; Mr. Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr. Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), and Mr. Dare Olutope (School Teacher) whom the Police said facilitated the commission of the crime.

    The invitation is in connection to a case of examination malpractice, criminal conspiracy, impersonation, breach of duty, and aiding and abetting.

    Read Also: ‘EFCC did not freeze Adelekes’ accounts’

    The Police on Wednesday also filed charges of  examination malpractice, criminal conspiracy, personation, breach of duty, aiding and abetting against Senator Ademola Adeleke and others at the Federal High Court, Abuja under the Examination Malpractice Act, CAP E15, 2004.

    The senator and others are expected to report at the Force Headquarters for immediate arraignment in court.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday by the Force Spokesman, Ag.  DCP Jimoh Moshood.

    The statement reads: “On 21st July 2017, the Osun State Police Intelligence Bureau (SIB) received and acted on an actionable intelligence about an ongoing examination malpractice involving Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke at Ojo/Aro Community Grammar School in Osun state.

    “When the Police operative arrived at the school, only Sikiru Adeleke was found seated for the examination while Senator Ademola Adeleke’s seat was vacant and was suspected to have escaped before the arrival of the Police operatives.

    “Further investigation revealed that both Senator Ademola Adeleke and his brother Sikiru Adeleke registered and were sitting for the National Examination Council Examination (NECO) 2017 as internal candidates impersonating students of the School at the ages of 57years and 42years respectively.

    “This crime was facilitated by the principal of the school, and two other members of staff of the school for which they are under investigation and being charged to court.

    “The Principal of the school, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau, the staff responsible for registration, Mr. Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo and a teacher Mr. Dare Olutope were arrested on 21 July 2017.

    “Senator Ademola Adeleke was arrested on 27 July 2017 and Sikiru Adeleke was arrested on 8 August 2017.”

    “Senator Ademola Adeleke made cautionary statement and admitted that he registered for the 2017 NECO examinations as an internal student in the said school but he didn’t sit for the examination.”

    On the findings by the Police, Moshood said: “Police investigation revealed the following primafacial and culpability facts against Senator Ademola Adeleke and four others.

    “Senator Ademola Adeleke made cautionary statement and admitted that he registered for the 2017 NECO examinations as an internal student in the said school and did not sit for the examination but have a result from NECO with seven credits and one Pass, a copy of which was obtained from NECO by the Police.

    “The Ojo/Aro 2017 NECO, SSCE school photo album (School’s copy), with Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke photographs in school uniform in the said album.

    “Senator Ademola Adeleke in the NECO 2017 Result obtained by the claimed that he was born on 12th June 1997 but in his statement to the Police, Senator Ademola Adeleke wrote 13th May 1960 as his Date of Birth.

    “The photographs of both Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke appearing side by side in the photo album have no NECO stamps on them.

    “Senator Ademola Adeleke and four others were arrested, investigated, granted bail and being charged to court.”

    On the charges filed, the Police said: “Charges of  examination malpractice, criminal conspiracy, Personation, breach of duty, aiding and abetting against Senator Ademola Adeleke (PDP Governorship Aspirant in the 22nd September, 2018 Gubernatorial Election in Osun State) and four others namely; MR Sikiru Adeleke, Alhaji Aregbesola Mufutau (Principal of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, Egbedore LGA, Osun State), Mr. Gbadamosi Thomas Ojo (School Staff responsible for the registration of candidates for NECO), Mr. Dare Olutope (School Teacher who facilitated the commission of the crime) have been filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja under the Examination Malpractice Act, CAP E15, 2004 today, Wednesday, 19th September, 2018.”

    “Senator Ademola Adeleke and four others are hereby advised in their own interest to report to the Special Investigation Panel, Force Headquarters, Abuja immediately for arraignment in court.”

  • BREAKING: WAEC confirms Adeleke sat for 1981 exams

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has confirmed that the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, Ademola Adeleke sat for its examination in 1981.

    Read Also:WAEC to ‘do the needful’ on Adeleke

    WAEC made the confirmation in its response to an order made on September 11 this year by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Bwari, Abuja, directiing the examination body to produce Adeleke’s result.

    In its affidavit sworn to by Henry Sunday Adewunmi Osindeinde a Deputy Registrar G Head of School Examination Department, WAEC said sat for the May/April 1981 at Ede Muslim High School, Yidi Road, Ede, with Centre Number: 19645 and Candidate Number 149.

     

    Details later…

  • ‘EFCC did not freeze Adelekes’ accounts’

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied freezing the bank accounts of Sen. Ademola Adeleke and those of his family members, including popular musician, Davido.

    Adeleke is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Sept. 22 governorship election in Osun.

    Spokesman of the commission, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement on Sunday, said media publications alleging the account freeze by the EFCC were false.

    “The commission calls on members the public to disregard the report, which is patently false and contrived to dress the agency with a partisan garb in the unfolding political contest in Osun State.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, at no time did the EFCC place a freeze order on any account belonging to members of the Adeleke family.

    “The purported freeze order which has unfortunately been amplified by pliable sections of the media without any attempt at confirmation, is alien to the commission and another example of fake news.

    “The EFCC frowns at the seeming attempts by faceless forces to drag it into the political fray,” he said.

    Uwujaren restated the commission’s “neutrality as a law enforcement organisation that is sworn to uphold the law at all times, irrespective whose interest is at stake.”(NAN)

  • Osun 2018: Two party members drag Adeleke to court

    Two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Osun have filed a suit at an Osogbo High Court challenging the candidacy of Sen. Ademola Adeleke as the party’s flag bearer in the September 22 governorship election.

    The suit filed on Monday by Mr Oyetunji Suredi and Mr Olagboye Adedamola is coming on the heels of Justice David Oladimeji’s judgment which dismissed a similar suit against Adeleke.

    The suit dismissed by Oladimeji was filed by Rasheed Olabayo and Oluwaseun Idowu.

    In the fresh suit, the plaintiffs are seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining Adeleke from parading himself as the candidate of the Osun PDP over alleged forged school certificate.

    They are also asking the court to make an order to restrain the state’s party Chairman, Mr Soji Adagunodo, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from further recognising the defendant as the candidate of the party.

    Read Also: ‘Osun, Oyo should take responsibility for LAUTECH’

    The duo are further seeking an order mandating the party chairman and INEC to replace Adeleke’s name with that of  Akin Ogunbiyi, the runner-up in the party’s primary.

    The plaintiffs alleged that Adeleke had presented a forged document as part of the purported proof of his academic qualifications.

    Oladimeji had earlier dismissed a similar case against Adeleke, stating that the constitution does not require the defendant to pass his secondary school examination to contest elective position.

    Olabayo and Idowu had contended that he did not satisfy the constitutional requirements to contest the governorship election.

    The plaintiffs, among others, had urged the court to set aside the election on the grounds that Adeleke did not submit his secondary school certificate.

    Although the judge in his Aug. 8 judgment held that the documents presented by Adeleke contained damaging errors, he noted that it could be addressed separately since the plaintiffs did not include it in their prayers.

    Adeleke had won the primary after he garnered 1,569 votes to beat his closest rival, Ogunbiyi, who polled 1,562.

  • Certificate scandal: Court dismisses case against Adeleke

    A case against the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Ademola Adeleke for not allegedly possessing secondary school certificate on Tuesday was dismissed by an Osun State High Court in Osogbo.

    The presiding judge, Justice David Oladimeji, dismissed the suit filed by two PDP’s delegates, Rasheed Olabayo and Oluwaseun Idowu, asking the court to restrain the PDP from presenting Adeleke to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as candidate of the party for the September 22 Osun governorship poll.

    The plaintiffs, who are members of PDP in Osun had claimed that Senator Adeleke did not possess Certificate and urged the

    They also urged court to restrain INEC from accepting Adeleke from PDP as its candidate on the basis that the Senator was not qualified, quoting Section 177 (d) of the 1999 Constitution.

    Read Also: Court remands mechanic in Kirikiri for stealing

    In his ruling, Justice Oladimeji said the claims of the plaintiffs that Adeleke did not possess a “secondary school certificate cannot disqualify him from contesting the election because the constitution does not state that a candidate for the office of the governor must possess a certificate.”

    According to the judge, the constitution only stipulated that the candidate must be educated up to secondary school level, saying “the plaintiff also admitted that the Senator attended Ede Grammar School.”

    Dismissing the case, the judge, who said that whether Adeleke obtained a certificate or not cannot be used to disqualify him, maintained that the fact that he attended the secondary school is enough for him to contest.