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Tag: Ademola Adeleke

  • Adeleke unveils N14b Ile-Ife dualised flyover

    Adeleke unveils N14b Ile-Ife dualised flyover

    Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke yesterday unveiled a N14 billion bridge project in Lagere to Iremo areas of Ile-Ife.

    The governo, who said the project will be completed in 12 months, urged the contractor, Messrs Sammya Nigeria Limited, to partner the host community for a successful execution.

    He said: “We are kicking off the flyover at Lagere Junction, as well as 55 kilometers of roads across the 30 local governments and the area office. After compliance with due process and procurement laws, the flyover is awarded to Messrs Sammya Nigeria Limited at N14,938,924,771.45.”

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, implored residents to support the government so the project can be completed in time.

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    “When the governor proposed this project, I was very happy. This is the economic hub of Ile-Ife. We have banks and all manners of businesses here. Nneighbouring communities, including Gbongan and others, come to Lagere for trading. “Ile-Ife is the origin, despite that the governor is from Ede, he remembered his ancestral home. I want to plead with the governor to remember Mayfair Road. I also plead with the governor not to deceive us with this launch but please complete this project. Don’t just come here to cut the ribbon but please complete this overhead bridge you are unveiling today.

    “Also, help us rehabilitate bad roads in Ile-Ife and expand them if need be. Please don’t neglect us and we will continue to pray for you.”

  • Adeleke got N10billion foreign loans in 2023 – Reports

    Adeleke got N10billion foreign loans in 2023 – Reports

    …we have never borrowed a kobo, says Adeleke

    Osun state governor, Ademola Adeleke reportedly secured the sum of N10,022,382,348.40 billion loans from foreign bodies and organizations in 2023 for projects across the state. 

    The report of 2023 budget performance obtained by The Nation on the website of the Osun government revealed that the state recorded 99 percent performance on loans received from foreign bodies. 

    A separate document titled 2023 Citizens Budget tagged ‘Budget of Consolidation’ prepared by the state Ministry Econimic Planning, Budget and Development, which was equally uploaded on state government site revealed how the government will source for loans from the foreign bodies for several projects. 

    In the 2023 Citizens Budget, the Osun State government was projected to receive N10.71 billion which bulk of it will come from the World Bank while others will come from the Islamic Development Bank. 

    For Ilesa Water project, N1.08b loan was projected to be received, N0.54b for establishment of Osun Investment Promotion Local Business Offices across 9 Federal Constituencies, N2.72b for O-Cares For Agricultural Support Services, N0.55bn loan from World Bank On Saber For Development Of PPP and Institutional Framework In the State, N0.55bn from World Bank On Saber For Establishment Of Osun Investment Promotion One-Stop-Shop.

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    Also, N0.10bn from World Bank On O-Cares Projects For Coordination OfState Cares (O-Cares) Activities, N3.48b from World Bank On Rural Access And AgriculturalMarketing Project (Raamp 3) for Rural Development Projects, N1.51bn from World Bank For Community And Social Development Project On O-Cares, N0.13bn from World Bank For Labour Intensive Public Workfare On O-Cares and N0.13bn from World Bank For Social Support Programme (Cash Transfer To Indigent Elderly On Osun Covid-19 Action Recovery And EconomicStimulus) – (O-Cares). 

    The loan expected in 2023 totalled N10.71bn.

    However, the state government, according to 2023 Budget Performance from Quarter 1 to 4 accessed N10,022,382,348.40. 

    The performance level revealed that Osun State recorded 99.9 per cent of loans received in 2023. 

    Meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke during ‘Ipade Imole’ held in Ilesa noted: “In all our governance activities so far, let it be known that we have never borrowed a kobo. This is in line with our pledge to govern.

    He added: “Within our available resources as we manage the huge liabilities we inherited from the previous government. If anybody tells you this administration has borrowed money, tell the person he is a liar.”

  • Group berates Adeleke for adding personal ‘symbol’ to Osun state logo

    Group berates Adeleke for adding personal ‘symbol’ to Osun state logo

    A social-political group, Osun Progressives Youths in United Kingdom(O-SPYUK) has said Governor Ademola Adeleke is on mission to personalise the state by his governance style.

    The group through its coordinator, Tunmise Ajiboye (Reformer) in  a statement recalled that Adeleke upon his inauguration as governor, renamed the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) to his campaign name.

    Ajiboye held that the style adopted by Adeleke would bastardise the governance architecture in Osun state, saying “Rather than focuse on giving the masses good governance, the governor is pursuing frivolities of renaming state structure after himself and his family.

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    “The state government failed to account for the N2bn palliative relief given by President Bola Tinubu, yet we are busy with change the logo of the state to have the symbols of Adeleke’s campaign.

    “Adeleke has decided to personalise the state’s insignia. He ensure that he put his identity – ‘Imole’ in the state logo. This is unacceptable!

    “Adeleke does not behave like the international man he claims to be. Why is Imole in the logo? Adeleke claims to school in Atlanta, did he see the name of the Atlanta governor in the state of Atlanta logo? This is all about self-glorification and overt haughtiness. All we desire in our State is good governance.”

  • Osun enters into pact with firm

    Osun enters into pact with firm

    Osun State Government and Segilola Resources Operating Ltd have entered into fresh agreement to check the operation of mining.

    Governor Ademola Adeleke, who constituted a team headed by the Chief of Staff, Kazeem Akinleye, met the delegates of the mining firm yesterday and reached an agreement that Osun State Government had shareholding in the firm.

    A statement by Adeleke’s spokesman, Olawale Rasheed, said shareholding with the company was shrouded in secrecy and unvalidated.

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    “In a business meeting with the Managing Director, Segun Lawson and his team yesterday, Governor Adeleke disclosed details of the agreement reached with Segilola Resources Operating Ltd, announcing Kazeem Akinleye, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, as the representative of Osun State on the board of Segilola firm.

    “Other agreements reached at the meeting included provision to the state government of all paid royalties so far to the Federal Government, quarterly meeting with Office of Natural and Mineral Resources to enhance synergy on environmental management and representation for Osun State Government along the mining value chain and operational stages.

    “Following the meeting, the governor said he would soon constitute MIREMCO Committee with other representatives as stated in the 2007 Mining Act, soliciting the cooperation of the Segilola management.”

    He said the firm had agreed to reconstruct Iperindo-Ilesha road and extend scholarship to youths within its operating communities.”

  • Open letter to Governor Ademola Adeleke

    Open letter to Governor Ademola Adeleke

    Dear Gov. Adeleke

    Executive Governor of Osun state 

    It is well about 9months in office, I believe it’s a convenient time to congratulate you on the birth of your new administration. I doubt it has been the easiest journey, but I hope our many feedbacks and constant scrutiny was perceived as necessary to bath a safe & healthy government.

    As another governorship candidate who conceived the same leadership intentions as you did, arguably the youngest governorship candidate Nigeria may have produced, I believed I bring to governance a perspective that mimics today’s reality and the desire of most of the population. However, my preparations for leadership also led me to an in-depth fact-finding mission, grassroot campaign, town hall meetings, and consultations with technocrats for local adaptation. I have decided in good faith and best interest of the state to share my manifesto with you.

    My campaign aimed at 5 cardinal points: Employment, Healthcare, Education, infrastructure & Security. In this letter I will mostly address the issue of unemployment in the state, especially in the informal sector. Broadly speaking, my intention is to look at the state as 31 Local Government areas to ensure balance in my interventions and optimize the comparative advantage of each area.

    My frontal approach to unemployment was tagged I-employment (Integrated employment). My goal was to restructure the informal sector; gradually integrate them into the tax net while leveraging on their skill set to reduce unemployment. I had met with about 30 associations which included tailors, photographers, bakers, NATA and many others, my plan was for each association through their members, train about 10 people per association per LG (10*30*31) this will involve a 6-8months skill acquisition program, a 1 month business training at a vocational institute to learn the business side of their acquired skill and also earn a certificate of completion. For the trainers who subscribe to this scheme they will be offered 1.  a contributory pension plan 2.  health insurance coverage 3. subsidize secondary to university education for their child(ren).

    If well-structured, after 4years, the state would have produced a minimum of 40,000 registered “empowered” skilled workers which can form our home grown small or nano scale enterprise positioned to provide service, address poverty, and reduce occupational immobility in the state. An important caution is to make sure trainees are NOT graduate looking for temporary placements or skill acquisition but people who otherwise will not have been engaged. 

    A common request among the associations is a union house, I would provide a well-equipped building at the state capital for all the unions to facilitate collaboration, training, and auditing in the sector. A mechanic village will be provided for NATA with an intention to encourage adequate and structured training for optimum service delivery to automobile users in the state.

    The lack of anchoring institutions in the state may forestall employment in the formal sector. I believe creating productive institutions should be a priority for your administration. I would be deliberate about attracting companies like GSK and other companies who is on their way out of the country. Also, investing in research can spur innovations, especially for academic researchers and the young innovators e.g., our labs should be able to produce basic equipment for our hospitals etc. I have also seen a rising interest of people in diaspora who desire to create businesses in Nigeria. My administration through an efficient liaison office would actively sort after such groups and provide the most efficient, transparent, and seamless ease of registration, investment and doing business.

    Osun state has an enormous capacity to feed the country but only an agrarian state on paper. I had met with a few owners of farm settlements across the state, and the denominator of their plight was absence of support from the government. Bush clearing was a common complain and my plan was to support them in a meaningful way, there is a viable tomato plantation along Iwo Osogbo Road, a lot of palm oil processing at Oba Oke, Gbongan, Ile ogbo etc.  fish production in Ore (Odo Otin LG) are viable sources of agriculture potentials for the state. In the short term, increasing the value chain of our produce and working with agro allied business can yield quick results.

    Our tourism potential across the state could be our way out of reliance on Federal Government for nuts and survival. The topography of Oke Ila, Asi at Odo-otin and Imesi Ile area of ijesha land are sceneries people will break a limb to view, asides the existing Ile Ife, Osogbo, erin ijesha tourism sites. The global tourism industry is currently about $2.2billion waiting for Osun to add its own quota.

    Our plan for healthcare generally follows creating a high-volume center within the state and achieving at least 95% health insurance coverage by the end of my administration. This will involve; passing employee protection bill which ensures any employer across all industries withing the state (including gas stations, hotels, eateries) with more than 5 staffs must provide some health insurance benefit for its employees. Parents with certain income must provide health insurance coverage for there unemployed children up to the age of 21 and the I-employment scheme for people in the informal sector as explained above.

    For education, to acutely ameliorate teacher shortage, my plan is to engage university student in a scheme which reduces their tuition in lieu of them teaching students at senior secondary school class 2 and 3 (SS2 & SS3) especially in remote areas. Also, my plan is to attract post graduate student to the state which can also provide such services. All University graduate of the state will have a brief teacher training course incorporated into their syllabus which will be given as a separate diploma at graduation.

    For Security, all insurgencies and criminal activities start from a home, Our DPOs and CPS rarely spend enough time in our communities, harnessing the natural traditional structure of our community by making the Obas & Balogun the backbone of security architecture would be my best stab at a secure state. A monthly incentive will made available LG with the safest security index as a form of positive reinforcement.

    Read Also: IPAC to Adeleke: don’t play politics with Fed Govt’s palliative

    Street hawking is an eye sore and disgrace to the state. Important entry points along Ikire, Ile Ife, Gbongan- Odeomu road, Osu are all filled with young people who derive their delay survival from hawking along the express road. I would seriously look into this, not only to ban but also empower this population.

    I have deliberately kept my letter brief. I believe your intelligent team can flesh out the ideas. 

    Lastly, I hope you are keeping an eye on the IGR of the state which is on a sloppy slide for the past two quarters. The previous administration created a consolidated revenue plan which led to an increase in the states IGR, (from 14Billion to about 19.1 billion) my hope is that your administration will further improve on this effort.

    Again, I congratulate you on the birth of your administration.

    Best wishes,

    Dr. Ademola Bayonle (DAB)       

    Dab4youth@gmail.com

    Governorship Candidate (YPP)

  • ‘Presentation of certificate to INEC not mandatory’

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have faulted a core argument by Atiku Abubakar and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in their petition that the President was not qualified to contest the last presidential election.

    The petitioners allegedly that President Buhari allegedly failed to submit his secondary school certificate to the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC).

    The President and the APC argued that the Constitution does not mandate any candidate seeking to contest an election for the office of the President to attach his school certificate among documents to be attached to the Form CF001 to be submitted to INEC.

    “Section 131(d) of the Constitution provides that a person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if ‘he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent’.

    “From this clear constitutional provision, the question of tendering a certificate, or the mountain, which the petitioners have unfortunately made out of the molehill of a particular certificate, does not arise.

    “All that the Constitution requires and demands is education up to school certificate level or its equivalent. While this section of the Constitution is very clear and unambiguous, giving no room for no conjecture, the Constitution goes further to define what ‘School Certificate or its equivalent’ means under Section 318,” they said.

    This formed part of the arguments by President Buhari and APC in their final written addresses filed before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in reaction to similar final addresses filed by Atiku and the PDP.

    The President and his party, while arguing that the petitioners failed to lead evidence in support of their claim that President Buhari lacked the academic qualification to stand for election, noted that they failed to call witnesses to ground the claim, except only one, who even admitted that President Buhari was qualified.

    “The only witness who claimed to have had any intimacy with the respondent amongst the petitioners’ witnesses is PW1 – Buba Galadima – and his evidence, in his examination-in-chief and cross-examination, amounts to evidence against interest in several respects, including the fact that he was the Deputy Director General, Director of Operations and National Campaign Secretary of the respondent, in 2003, 2007 and 2011.

    “His only alibi was that he never saw the respondent’s first School Leaving Certificate. Assuming there was even no cross-examination of this suspect witness, his evidence, rather man assisting the petitioners, supports the respondent.

    “Under cross-examination, he (Galadima) told the court that he believed that the respondent was qualified to vie and contest for the office of President at the four times he supported him in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015; that respondent was military Head of State between 1983 and 1985; that respondent used to address the nation in English language.

    “What else does one need to establish the fact that the second respondent (Buhari) was/is eminently qualified to contest the election than the evidence of PW1, a former close aide of the respondent, who has confessed falling out with him? It is an admission against interest, which is the most potent weapon a party can use against his adversary in litigation,” the respondents said.

    Read Also: INEC withdraws C’River REC’s powers

    They cited cases, including the recent decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, in the appeal brought against the decision of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by the candidate of the PDP in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, who was disqualified on ground of not possessing a secondary school certificate.

    “It is apt to draw the court’s attention to the fundamental fact that the decision in the Adeleke v. Raheem (supra), was arrived at while this Honourable Court was sitting on an appeal on a pre-election matter, which challenged the educational qualification of Adeleke, as well as the presentation of his Form CF001 to INEC, pursuant to the provision of Section 31(4) and (5) of the Electoral Act, which makes the subject a pre-election matter and not a post-election matter, as the petitioners have done in this case, for reasons best known to them.

    “May we further draw the attention of the court to the fact that in the Adeleke case, supra, the main reliefs sought against him relate to his disqualification under and by virtue of Section 177(d) of the Constitution on the grounds that he gave false information in his Form CF001 submitted to the INEC, claiming to have met the constitutional requirements, whereas, in the detailed result submitted by him, he only sat for English Language, where he failed woefully, scoring F9, and failed to turn up for any of the other subjects.

    “The West African Examination Council (WAEC) certified that he registered for the examination, sat for only one subject and failed to attend the other subjects. Adeleke did not have any other qualifying certificate or public service experience, be it in the Armed Forces, teaching service, or anywhere at all.

    “Unlike the respondent, who has shown his certificates qua result at the Secondary School level, apart from being commissioned into the Nigerian Army as 2nd Lieutenant in 1963, he attended the Nigerian Military Training College (now the Nigerian Defence Academy) for 12 months; the Officer ‘Cadet Training Course at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England; the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India; the War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States of America, rising through the ranks to attain the rank of Major General; former Military Head of State, a man, who can communicate and who has been communicating effectively in English language.

    “With much respect, it is preposterous, and very unfortunate that the petitioners would make the educational qualification of the respondent an issue in this petition. On the flip side, it is submitted that this shows that the petitioners have nothing to urge on the court, thus, holding to any available straw,” the President and APC said.

     

  • Oyetola promises to clear workers’ salary arrears

    OSUN State Governor Gboyega Oyetola has promised to clear salary arrears of civil servants.

    He also promised to keep paying their salaries in full.

    The governor made the promise at an event organised by the civil servants to celebrate his Friday’s victory at the Supreme Court, which reaffirmed him as the winner of the September 22, 2018, state governorship election.

    The apex court’s decision ended the almost eight months’ litigation over the election and sealed the hope of the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    He said: “I will not only sustain the payment of your full salary but by the grace of God, I’ll pay your arrears. I will prioritise your welfare. But as workers, you must believe in the administration, be dedicated, and give your full support, show understanding and commitment to duty.”

    Oyetola, who advised the workers to be partners in progress, challenged them to be efficient and productive “because you are the drivers of our promise to deliver democracy dividends to the people. I have no reason not to hit the ground running, we will deliver on our promises.”

    Read Also: 10 facts about Osun State Governor Oyetola

    Reflecting on the period of litigation, Oyetola, who took the mantle on November, 27, 2018, said: “The journey was tough and full of distractions. It was a difficult period for planning. Anytime you made a move to plan, you remember that it is only if all things are equal. You did not know how long you could plan.”

    Oyetola said he, however, refused to allow his spirit to be dampened by reminding himself that tribulation was part of life and that “even Jesus Christ faced tribulation”.

    “He was crucified, so who are we?  Our state is bound to go through difficult time, but the important thing is that we have triumphed.

    “Now the battle is over. I call on everybody, including the opponents to support us to move the state forward because I believe in participatory government.”

    He hailed the civil servants for not joining a group of pensioners, who protested last month over their yet-to-be paid arrears of wages, claiming that the state government had received a tranche of Paris Club refund.

    “It is not true that our government has received a Paris Club refund. We cannot deceive our people,” Oyetola said.

    Prayers were held for the success of the administration.

    Also at the event were his deputy, Mr. Benedict Alabi; Secretary to the State Government Prince Wole Oyebamiji; Head of Service Dr. Oyebade Olowogboyega, who organised the event, a National Commissioner of the National Population Commission (NPC) Senator Mudashir Hussein, State All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman Prince Gboyega Famodun, permanent secretaries, heads of government agencies and other senior government and public servants.

    The governor was heralded into his office by the welcoming public servants, who gathered at the entrance to the state secretariat at Abere, Osogbo, singing his praises amid drumming and dancing.

    It was his first day at work after the apex court’s verdict that dismissed the appeal filed by Adeleke.

  • Osun: Jubilation as Supreme Court upholds Oyetola’s election

    • Why court dismissed Adeleke’s appeal

    • APC, Buhari, Tinubu, others congratulate governor

    • It’s time to move forward, says Oyetola

    • Adeleke: my ambition was never a do or die affair

    The streets of Osogbo and other communities in Osun State erupted in excitement on Friday as the Supreme Court affirmed the election of Gboyega Oyetola as the governor of the state.

    The apex court’s endorsement of Oyetola’s mandate followed its dismissal of the four appeals filed by Senator Ademola Adeleke, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the election.

    The appeals by Adeleke and his party were against the May 9, 2019 judgments of the Court of Appeal, Abuja which voided the majority judgment of the election tribunal and affirmed the election of Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor of Osun State.

    The four appeals were marked: SC/553/2019; SC/554/2019; SC/555/2019 and SC/556/2019.

    The Supreme Court, in a majority decision of five-to-two, read by Justice Olabode Rodes-Vivour, held that the majority judgment given by the election tribunal in favour of Adeleke and the PDP was a nullity.

    Justice Rhodes-Vivour held that the tribunal was not properly constituted when it gave its decision in view of the non-participation of one of the tribunal members in one of the sittings where trial was conducted and vital documents admitted in evidence.

    The judge, in the lead majority judgment, agreed with lawyer to Oyetola, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) that the failure of a member of the election tribunal, Justice Peter Obiora, to sit on February 6, 2019 rendered the entire proceedings and the judgment given by the tribunal a nullity.

    The judgment by Rhodes-Vivour was on the appeal marked SC/553/2019, which was directed at the Court of Appeal’s judgment in the appeal filed by Oyetola against the majority decision of the election tribunal.

    The court noted that Justice Obiora was absent on February 6, 2019 when the respondents’ witnesses (RWs) 12 and 13 – Ayoola Soji and Oladejo Kazeem – testified and tendered exhibits, which the tribunal admitted in evidence.

    The apex court held that having not attended the tribunal’s siting on February 6, 2019, Justice Obiora did not see the two witnesses and was unable to examine their demeanour, as required, and therefore, it was wrong for the judge to have authored a judgment in which he reviewed the evidence given by the witnesses.

    Justice Rhodes-Vivour added: “As rightly pointed out by the learned senior counsel for the first respondent, Chief Wole Olenipekun (SAN), learned counsel for the appellant, O. Ikpeazu (SAN) also held the view that Obiora J did not sit on the 6th of February 2019.

    “At no time did Ikpeazu dispute the proceedings of the 6th of February2019. It was observed that at the election tribunal, Obiora J signed the record of proceedings at the end of every proceeding, except on the 6th of February 2019 when he did not sign at the end of the proceedings.”

    Justice Rhodes-Vivour said after examining the submissions of counsel and the record of appeal, “I hold the position that Obiora J did not sit on the said day.

    “What then is the implication of that on the proceedings conducted and the judgment delivered by the tribunal?

    “The Supreme Court has always set aside the judgments of the trial courts where the panels have been irregular and inconsistent.

    “An examination of the record of appeal reveals that well over 90 persons gave evidence, and at the end of each day’s proceedings, three judges, who included Obiora J, signed. It was only the proceedings of the 6th of February 2009 that was not signed by Obiora J.

    “That was the day when the testimonies of RW12 and RW13 were taken. They were cross examined and vital documents admitted in evidence, which counsel agreed, at the Court of Appeal, that Obiora J did not sit on the 6th of February 2019 and so, he could not have signed the proceedings of that day.

    “The failure of Oboira J to sit on the 6th of February 2019 renders the proceedings of that day worthless and the entire judgment a nullity.

    “The correct order to make in this circumstance is to declare the entire judgment of the tribunal a nullity as a result of the fact that one of the members of the panel did not sit on a day proceedings were held.

    “The learned counsel to the appellants ought to have advised his clients that the failure of Obiora J to sit on the 6th of February, 2019, but prepared the majority judgment, is a fundamental flaw.

    “The tribunal was not properly constituted as regard the number of its members on the 6th of February 2019.

    “The absence of Obiora J from the proceedings of the 6th of February 2019 affected the competence of the tribunal to deliver the judgement in any form.”

    Justice Rhodes-Vivour proceeded to set aside the entire proceedings of the tribunal and its judgement delivered in favour of Adeleke and the PDP.

    He upheld the majority judgement of the Court of Appeal, which earlier voided the tribunal’s judgement and affirmed the victory of Governor Oyetola.

    Justice Rhodes-Vivour added: “I affirm the majority judgment of the Court of Appeal.

    “The majority judgment of the tribunal is a nullity.

    “The preliminary objection is overruled.

    “The appeal is dismissed.”

    The judge also dismissed two other similar appeals filed by Adeleke, marked: SC/554/2019 and SC/555/2019.

    Both appeals were against the Court of Appeal judgments in the appeals by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC against the majority judgment of the tribunal.

    Justices Ibrahim Muhammad (Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria), Kudirat Kekerere-Ekun, Amiru Sanusi and Uwani Abba-Aji agreed with the lead majority judgment as delivered by Justice Rhodes-Vivour.

    Justice Abba-Aji read the lead majority judgment in the second appeal marked: SC/556/2019, which challenged the legality of the supplementary election conducted in Osun after INEC declared the first election inconclusive.

    Justice Abba-Aji said in view of the court’s position in the earlier judgment, to the effect that the majority judgment of the tribunal was a nullity, it was unnecessary to consider other issues raised in the appeal.

    Justices Kumai Akaahs and Paul Galumje gave the dissenting judgments in both cases in which they allowed the two appeals.

    In his contribution, Akaahs said: “I wish to say that INEC is supposed to be an umpire and not an interested party.

    “In this particular case, INEC used its manual to cancel an election in some polling units and declared the election inconclusive when the appellant had scored the highest number of votes and got the required spread of two-thirds of the votes in the 25 per cent of the Local Government Areas.

    “‎They ought to have declared the appellant the winner, but INEC had something up its sleeves and it was able to achieve that by the rerun, whereby the 2nd respondent (Oyetola) had ‎400 plus votes as against the 1st appellant (Adeleke), who had 300 plus.

    Read Also: 10 facts about Osun State Governor Oyetola

    “Whereas in the election of September 22, 2018, after the illegal cancellation of some results, the 1st appellant had scored the majority votes of 300,000 plus votes‎.

    “INEC has always used the rerun election to do what it likes. This should not continue.

    “On that basis, I hold that the 1st appellant, having scored the highest number of lawful votes and had the spread, he ought to be declared the winner, and I so declare.”

    Jubilation in Osogbo, other communities

    Residents of Osun State on Friday trooped out in solidarity with the State governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, following the Supreme Court judgement which affirmed him as the winner of the September 22, 2018 governorship election.

    Residents of the state went into wild jubilation, moving in groups from one location to another and singing victory songs.

    The popular Olaiya junction and Nelson Mandela Freedom Park were among the places where residents converged to sing and dance to Oyetola’s victory.

    Addressing his supporters at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Oyetola said since the matters of the last governorship election had been laid to rest by the courts, all stakeholders should come together to move the state forward.

    Oyetola said: “It is time to move forward. I extend hands of friendship to the opposition. We are all Omoluabi. I will focus on security, peoples’ welfare, especially women.”

     My ambition was never a do or die affair, says Adeleke

    The PDP candidate in the election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on Friday congratulated Governor Oyetola on his victory at the Supreme Court.

    Adeleke, in a statement issued by his media aide, Olawale Rasheed, said his ambition to become the governor of Osun State was never a do or die affair.

    Adeleke said the judgement of the Supreme Court, being the apex court in the land, “regardless of my disagreement and disappointment, remains final.”

    He said: “As a democrat and law abiding citizen, I accept the ruling no matter my misgiving. I wish Governor Oyetola well in the governance of Osun state.”

    He expressed gratitude to his teeming supporters, leaders and members of the PDP for their “massive support throughout the duration of the case,” lauding “our high spirit and commitment to the cause of democracy, which we championed from last year till date.”

    He continued: “In all circumstances, we must thank God Almighty. We gallantly fought a good fight in pursuit of a democratic cause. The ideals we fought for live on.

    “Our ambition was never a do or die affair. We aspired to serve and deliver democratic dividends to the people of Osun State.

    “Our ambition was altruistic. We wish Governor Oyetola the best in governance of the state.”

    PDP shocked at judgment, calls for calm, unity

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Friday expressed shock at the judgement of the Supreme Court which affirmed Mr Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor of Osun State.

    In a statement issued by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the fact that the Supreme Court had a split judgment also spoke volumes on its verdict in this matter.

    The statement said: “Our study of the judgment however shows that the Supreme Court did not negate the position of the PDP and millions of Nigerians that our candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, won the election, but based its verdict on reservations over issues of technicalities arising at the election petition tribunal.

    “Nevertheless, our party stands with overwhelming majority of Nigerians on that undeniable fact that the people of Osun State, by the votes cast at the poll, preferred Senator Adeleke as their governor.

    “The PDP, as a law-abiding party, however, urges the people of Osun State to remain united, calm and not lose hope in our democratic process and the quest for a government that truly represents their wishes and aspirations.”

  • Osun gov dispute: Supreme Court hears Adeleke’s appeal, Monday

    The Supreme Court has scheduled hearing for Monday in the appeal filed by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Ademola Adeleke in the September 2018 governorship election in Osun State.

    Adeleke is, by the appeal, seeking the reversal of the May 9, 2019 majority judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which upheld the election of Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Governor of Osun State.

    Information about the hearing date is contained in notices sent to parties last week by the Registry of the Supreme Court, a copy of which The Nation sighted in Abuja.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Oyetola of the APC the winner at conclusion of the September 27, 2018, supplementary election, held after the inconclusive September 22, 2018 main election.

    Adeleke and the PDP challenged the outcome of the election at the election tribunal, which sat in Abuja owing to fear of insecurity in Osun State.

    On March 22, 2019 the three-man election tribunal gave a split decision of two-to-one in favour of the petitioners – Adeleke and the PDP.

    Justices Peter Obiorah and Adegboye Gbolagunte, in the majority decision, upheld the petition, voided Oyetola’s victory and declared Adeleke of the PDP. winner of the governorship election.

    Read Also: Supreme Court sacks Niger senator, declares new winner

    Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, who chaired the tribunal, gave a minority judgment, in which he dissented and struck out the petition on the grounds that the petitioners did not prove their case.

    Oyetola, APC and INEC appealed the  majority judgment at the Court of Appeal,Abuja, while Adeleke and the PDP appealed the minority decision.

    On May 9, 2019 the Court of Appeal gave its decisions on the appeals, with four members of the five-man panel, upholding the appeals by Oyetola, APC and INEC, and dismissing the cross-appeal by Adeleke and the PDP.

    The Court of Appeal’s majority judgement set aside the majority judgment of the election tribunal, upheld the result as declared by INEC and affirmed Oyetola of the APC as winner of the election.

    Justices Jummai Sankey, Abubakar Yahaya, Isaiah Akeju and Bitrus Sanga gave the majority decision, while Justice George Mbaba gave the minority judgment, in which he dismissed the appeals and upheld the cross-appeal.

    The appeal to be heard by the Supreme Court on Monday is that filed by Adeleke against the majority decisions of the Court of Appeal.

  • Appeal Court upturns judgment faulting Adeleke’s qualification

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside the April 2, 2019 judgment by Justice Othman Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which voided Ademola Adeleke’s candidacy in the last governorship election in Osun State  on the grounds that he was not qualified, having not possessed valid secondary school certificate.

    A three-man panel of the court, held in a unanimous judgment yesterday, that the FCT High Court was wrong to have concluded that Adeleke did not complete Secondary School and that he made false representation as regard his educational qualification.

    Justice Emmanuel Agim, in the lead judgment, faulted the trial court for assuming jurisdiction over the case, which he said was filed by Wahab Raheem and Adam Habeeb outside the 14 days prescribed for pre-election cases by the constitution.

    Justice Agim said the case was statute barred, the plaintiffs having not complied with Section 285 of the Constitution in the filing of the case and the trial judge, having failed to deliver its judgment within 180 days.

    The judge faulted the conclusion by the trial judge that the suit was not pre-election case.

    He said a suit for a declaration that the information provided by a candidate in Form CF001 was false and that he be disqualified was a pre-election matter.

    Read Also: Police prosecutor almost jailed for re-arresting Adeleke

    Justice Agim held that, being a pre-election matter, the suit ought to have been filed within 14 days from the day of the occurrence of the event complained about and judgment given within 180 days, as provided in Section 285 (9) and (10) of the constitution.

    He noted that the giving of the information to INEC occurred when the CF001 of the appellant was submitted on July 24, 2018.

    “So, the event or action complained of occurred on July 24, 2018. So, the 14 days period, within which the suit ought to have been filed, expired on August 6, 2018. But this suit was filed on September 4, 2018,” the judge said.

    He noted that even if the 1st and 2nd respondents (Raheem and Habeeb) became aware of the said information on 4th of August, 2018 when it was published in the newspaper, it would have still been out of time when the 14 days is calculated from the date the suit was filed.

    “Therefore, the suit is statute barred. The trial court had no jurisdiction to have heard the case,” Justice Agim said.

    He proceeded to void the entire proceedings and judgment given by Justice Musa on April 2, 2019, which he said was delivered 209 days after the suit was filed, as against the required 180 days.

    Justice Agim held that the trial court was in error to have assumed jurisdiction over a case that relate to the dispute over a candidate’s qualification to contest election to the governorship of Osun State.

    He held that the trial court was without the requisite territorial/geographical jurisdiction to have entertained the case.

    Justice Agim agreed with Adeleke that the trial court failed to properly consider and evaluate all the evidence brought before it.

    The judge noted that the trial court ignored the affidavit by the West African Examination Council (WAEC), in which it displayed Adeleke’s WAEC result, adding that the documents tendered by WAEC, upon an order of the trial court, had resolved the dispute about whether or not Adeleke had WAEC result.

    He added that the holding by the trial court, that the copy of the result tendered by Adeleke contained elements of fakeness, was perverse.

    The judge added: “It is curious that the trial High Court that ordered the production of WAEC result chose to ignore it.

    “This wrong approach made it (the trial court) to reach a wrong conclusion about the veracity of the information in the statement of results provided by Adeleke.”

    Justice Agim said it was wrong for the High Court of the FCT to pronounce that Adeleke was not qualified to contest the governorship election when a High Court in Osun State had, in an earlier judgment, held that he (Adeleke) was qualified.

    He said since the judgment of the High Court of Osun State had resolved the issue of Adeleke’s qualification and held that he met the qualification requirement in Section 177(d) of the Constitution, the FCT High Court has no jurisdiction to review the issue of qualification decided by the Osun High Court.