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Tag: Oyetola

  • Oyetola closes case at election tribunal

    •Osun governor calls 11 witnesses •APC to open defence February 6

    OSUN State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has closed his defence before the state’s Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    Oyetola, who is the second respondent in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, closed his case after calling 11 witnesses and tendering many documentary evidence, including election result sheets.

    PDP and Adeleke are challenging the outcome of the election won by Oyetola, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

    On February 1, after calling his 11th witness – Adegboyega Rasaki Adeosunn, who acted APC’s State Collation Officer during the election – Oyetola promised to call four more on Monday.

    At the resumption of proceedings on Monday, Oyetola’s lawyer John Baiyeshea (SAN) told the tribunal that his client did not see any reason to call more witnesses and had decided to close his case.

    Baiyeshea said: “We wanted to call three more witnesses but we have decided that we don’t need more witnesses to prove our case. So, that is the case of the second respondent.”

    Lawyer to the third respondent (APC), Yomi Aliyu, told the tribunal that his client was ready to open its defence yesterday, and asked that further proceedings be shifted to today.

    Tribunal’s Chairman Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, in a ruling, closed the case of the second respondent and adjourned till today for the third respondent to open its defence.

    While testifying on February 1, Oyetola’s last witness told the tribunal that all political parties, including the PDP, agreed to the rerun election ordered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State during the last governorship election.

    Adeosun, under cross-examination by lawyer to INEC, Adesina Agbede, said: “At the State Collation Centre, when the local government collation officers came to report local government by local government, the Local Government Returning Officers gave explanations on what happened at some polling units and said the results could not be finalised.

    “That led to the cancellation of the results of those polling units. At the point of aggregation of all results from the 30 local government areas, the Returning Officer of the state informed us that the number of voters in those polling units exceeded the margin between the scores of the two leading candidates – the second petitioner and the second respondent.

    “The margin showed that the difference is small compared to the number of the registered voters, and they cannot be disenfranchised. All the party agents were there, as reflected by those who signed the Form EC8D,” the witness said.

     

     

  • Oyetola seeks 21st century technology-driven OSBC

    Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola has urged a panel to prepare the ground for the revitalisation of the state-owned Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) to meet the challenges of a technologically-driven organisation.

    Oyetola spoke yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, while inaugurating a seven-man committee to revamp and reposition the OSBC to make it a leader in broadcasting, as envisioned by the founders.

    ýThe governor urged the committee to examine the station’s content, facilities, operations, personnel and attune them to the requirements of the 21st century broadcasting and international standard and to deliver the desired optimum performance.

    The committee, chaired by Obaniyi Akinwale, is expected to submit its report in two weeks.

    Other members are: Mr Olabode Awe (Secretary), Mr Taiwo Ojewande Kayode Akinsola, Mr. J. Ayo Makinde, Prince Yeye Oyedokun and Mr Edmund Obilo.

    The ceremony was attended by the management of the OSBC, led by its Director General, Mrs Adejumoke Akinjiola.

    Oyetola urged the committee to find out the state of operation and identify the challenges preventing optimum performance of OSBC and recommend solutions.

    He also directed the committee to examine the broadcast content and offer workable alternatives as well as examine the equipment stock available and make recommendations as appropriate to improve the corporation’s operations.

    Other terms of reference of the committee is also to examine critically the personnel ratio to work and make recommendations, as may be useful to the essence of broadcasting business.

    Oyetola said: “Inauguration of this committee is symbolic because of its importance and impact on the agenda of this administration and the life of the state.

    “The OSBC remains the voice of government to the people of State of Osun, and vice versa. It is, therefore, an ally in the efforts of this administration to deliver quality service and development to the people.

    “The forebears of OSBC envisioned it as a conglomerate of OSBC Radio and TV, Ile Awiye, Osogbo; Orisun FM, Ile-Ife; New Dawn Television, Ibokun and Reality Radio-Vision Service, Iwo.

    “This unprecedented arrangement in the history of the nation speaks to the pride of place they placed on information and the people. We have a duty as an administration to make the vision speak loud to the virtues the State holds dear at all times.

  • Oyetola commends women farmers

    The Osun State First lady and President of the IleriOluwa Development Initiative (IOD-Initiative), Mrs. Kafayat Oyetola, has commended women in the state for embracing farming as vocation and profession.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the vegetable farming scheme in Osogbo, the state capital, she said the IOD-Initiative had come up with a programme of empowerment in agriculture because of women’s interest in farming.

    Oyetola, who was enthusiastic about women participation in agriculture and for embracing the IOD-Initiative empowerment scheme, said their response was an indication that “collectively we are ready to bring tangible and fundamental change to the living standard of our people in this state.”

    According to her, agricultural sector has always been the main pillar for sustenance of humanity in history.

    She said: “There used to be a time when our nation took the front position in this. It is commendable that we are beginning to witness an upsurge again. It is particularly gladdening that more and more women are embracing farming.

    Oyetola, who disclosed that the vegetable scheme was designed in three modules, said the first was about training, the second was distribution of seeds to women and the third was giving a revolving loan envelope, which, according to her, would boost production of agricultural products in the beneficiaries’ farms.

    The state governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, described the scheme as a challenge for his administration to do more for women for their participation in agriculture.

    The governor implored the beneficiaries of the scheme to use the fund given to them judiciously and ensure they pay back in order to keep the scheme going stronger.

  • Osun tribunal: INEC is allowed to rectify errors in result sheets, by witnesses‎

    *Tribunal asks PDP, Adeleke’s lawyer to be organised

    The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal has been told that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is allowed to rectify discrepancies in entries in election result sheets.

    Three witnesses called by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, at the resumed sitting of the tribunal on Thursday in Abuja, said they were trained on the operation of INEC’s Manual and Electoral Guidelines before they were engaged as agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the election.

    The witnesses – Bello Mukaila, Olatitoye Sodeeq, Iyiola Ismail – (who served as APC polling agent in Osogbo and Ikire) said they learnt, at the training, that INEC reserve the right to correct errors in result sheets.

    They also identified some of the result sheets where such discrepancies were corrected.

    Some of the result sheets were from polling units won by both APC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The tribunal is hearing the petition by the PDP and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    Adeleke witnessed the tribunal’s proceedings on Thursday. He sat from beginning of proceedings (10am) to around 12noon.

    The legal team of the PDP and Adeleke got an additional hand on Thursday with the attendance of proceedings by former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Kanu Agabi (SAN).

    Agabi only announced his appearance but allowed Onyechi Ikpeazu to conduct the case of the petitioners.

    Wole Olanipekun (who led Oyetola’s legal team) also allowed Abiodun Owonikoko (SSAN) to conduct his client’s proceedings. He only intervened when necessary.

    Olanipekun contributed to argument, in favour of the 3rd respondent (APC) when Ikpeazu objected to the move by APC’s lawyer, Lasun Sanusi (SAN) to tender a copy of INEC’s Manual and Electoral Guideline through Mukaila.

    In a ruling, the tribunal, led by Justice Ibrahim Sirajo upheld the argument by Olanipekun and Sanusi and admitted the document in evidence.

    At the commencement of proceedings, Justice Sirajo advised Ikpeazu to be organised. The judge’s advice was informed by the discrepancies noted in the list of lawyers he submitted to court and the one with him.

    Read Also: Osun gov election dispute: Oyetola opens defence

    Ikpeazu announced the names of some lawyers in his team and left some out, an omission the judge noted from the list submitted to the tribunal.

    The tribunal Chairman later called out the names of about five lawyers, who were omitted by Ikpeazu, following which the petitioners’ lawyer apologised.

    Justice Sirajo then said: “Get more organised please, get more organised. That is all I have to say for today, get more organised.”

    The tribunal rose at about 12.30pm, after Olanipekun announced that the 2nd defendants were done for the day.

    Proceedings resume on Friday at 10am.

  • Governors committed to violence-free polls, say Bagudu, Oyetola

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) governors yesterday expressed commitment to ensure peacefully polls on February 16 and March 2.

    Two of the governors – Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi State) and Gboyega Oyetola (Osun State) spoke with reporters at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    They were in the State House for a meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.

    Bagudu specifically called on all stakeholders in Nigeria’s political environment to work together to polls hitch-free.

    Political parties, candidates and supporters, he said, must abide by the rules of the game in the interest of the country.

    “We must have respect for rules and laws. All parties should know that election is about mobilising your supporters, reaching out to the populace and convincing them to vote for you. All parties should ensure that violence, hate speech and thuggery are kept on check” he stated.

    Read also: Ohanaeze Ndigbo: election is war to change Southeast’s fortune

    According to Oyetola, APC governors would step up security meetings and continue to provide necessary support to the security operatives in their respective states.

    Their meeting with Abba Kyari, he said, was on how to tap the abundant solid minerals in the country for the diversification of the economy.

    “We’ll engage our youth on mining. They don’t appreciate the fact that they can make good living on mining. Mining would assist us in addressing the unemployment in the country,” the Osun governor said.

  • Osun election dispute: Oyetola opens defence

    Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola opened his defence yesterday before the state’s Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Apo, Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    Oyetola, who was represented by John Baiyeshea (SAN) and Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), called seven witnesses and tendered election result sheets (Form EC8A) from seven polling units in Ede North and Ede South local government areas.

    Led in evidence by Owonikoko, the witnesses said the election held in accordance with the law.

    They said there were minor discrepancies in the record of results and the number of ballot papers, but that such discrepancies were not sufficient to affect the scores recorded by the political parties in the seven polling units, which were won by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The PDP and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, are challenging the outcome of the election won by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oyetola and APC are named first, second and third respondents to the petition.

    INEC closed its case on January 24, paving the way for Oyetola to conduct his case as the second respondent.

    Adeleke witnessed yesterday’s tribunal proceedings.

    The governor sat from the beginning at 10 a.m till noon when he stepped out.

    He did not return until the tribunal closed around 5 p.m.

    The documents tendered by Oyetola are: result sheets from Unit 10 Ward 4; Unit 10 Ward 4; Unit 7 Ward 3; Unit 8 Ward 3 and Unit 1 Ward 3 (in Edo South) as well as the result sheets from Unit 2 Ward 7; Unit 1 Ward 5 and Unit 3 Ward 5 (in Ede North).

    The first witness called by the second respondent, Raji Adekunle Musibau, said he lives in Ede and acted as APC’s agent in polling unit 10 Ward 4.

    The witness said he was accredited before he voted on the Election Day.

    He said the election was peaceful with the result counted by INEC officials, who announced it to the hearing of all.

    Musibau said the complaint about the number of used and unused ballot papers did not tally with the number of allocated ballot papers.

    The witness also said there was an error in the recording of some figures on the result sheet.

    He said: “There were corrections in the result sheet, but it did not affect the result and scores of the parties. PDP still won the unit.”

    The other six witnesses also testified that the election held as required by the law.

  • Osun gov election dispute: Oyetola opens defence

    Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola opened his defence on Wednesday before the state Governorship Election Tribunal, sitting in Apo, Abuja.

    Oyetola, represented by John Baiyeshea (SAN) and Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), called seven witnesses and tendered election result sheets (Form EC8A) from seven polling units in Ede North and Ede South Local Governments of the state.

    Led in evidence by Owonikoko, the witnesses said the election held in accordance with the law.

    They said there were minor discrepancies in the record of results and the number of ballot papers but such discrepancies were not sufficient to affect the scores recorded by the political parties in the seven polling units, which were won by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The PDP and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke are challenging the outcome of the election won by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oyetola and APC are named 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents to the petition.

    INEC closed its case on January 24 this year, paving the way for Oyetola to conduct his case as the second respondent.

    Adeleke witnessed the tribunal’s proceedings on Wednesday. He sat from the beginning at 10am to around 12noon when he stepped out. He did not return until the tribunal rose at around 5pm.

    The documents tendered by Oyetola are result sheets from Unit 10 Ward 4; Unit 10 Ward 4; Unit 7 Ward 3; Unit 8 Ward 3 and Unit 1 Ward 3 (in Edo South LGA), and result sheets from Unit 2 Ward 7; Unit 1 Ward 5 and Unit 3 Ward 5 (in Ede North LGA).

    The first witness called by the 2nd respondent, Raji Adekunle Musibau, who said he lives in Ede and acted as APC’s agent in polling unit10 ward 4, said he was accredited before he voted on the election day.

    Musibau said the election was held peaceful, with the result counted by INEC officials, who announced the result to the hearing of all.

    He said the complained the number of used and unused ballot papers did not tally with the number of allocated ballot papers. He also said there was error in the recording of some figures in the result sheet.

    Musibau said “there were corrections in the result sheet, but it did not affect the result and scores of the parties. PDP still won the unit.”

    The other six witnesses testified in similar vein and said the election held as required.

    Three of the witnesses, who said they were not fluent in English language, testified in Yoruba, with the aid of an interpreter, who was identified as Sunday Ayodeji.

    Those who testified in Yoruba are: Ganiyudeen Muyideen Olalekan (a carpenter), Mrs. Kafayat Oluwatoyin Abdullahi, who said she is a trader, and Mrs. Suliyat Olawale, who said she is hairdresser.

    Also called as witnesses were: Olawuyi Oluranti Joseph and Popoola Hassan Abioye.

    The tribunal however rejected Oyetola’s move to call a Ward Collation Agent of the APC as his eight witness, to tender documents and give oral testimony.

    The witness, Jimoh Ismail Adetunji (who was subpoenaed) had mounted the witness stand and tendered a Form EC8B in respect of Ward 5 Ede North LGA, which he brought with him, when petitoners’ lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) objected to his being called as the 2nd respondent’s witness on the grounds he was not listed as a witness.

    The tribunal took argument, rose briefly and returned to deliver its ruling, agreeing with Ikpeazu and rejecting Adetunji as the witness of the 2nd respondent.

    Tribunal Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo has adjourned to Thursday for continuation of proceedings.

  • Oyetola urges citizens to turn out as Buhari’s campaign train hits Osun

    The Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola has implored residents  of the state to turn out en masse  to receive President Muhammadu Buhari today in Osogbo, the state capital.

    He said the call was necessary to reciprocate the good gestures of President Buhari to the people of Osun and the state in general.

    Governor Oyetola made the appeal yesterday while assessing the state of things at the Osogbo City Stadium, venue of the campaign rally.

    Oyetola enjoined the people of the state to vote massively for all the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and  re-elect President Buhari in the February 16  election.

    He said Osun has been enjoying a hand of fellowship from the administration of President Buhari since he assumed office.

    According to Oyetola, the only way Osun people can appreciate President Buhari is to return him to power on February 16.

    He said:“There is no doubt in the fact that Osun has benefited immensely from the administration of President Buhari as he had supported us absolutely in all aspects of life to ensure that our administration deliver on its mandate to the people.

    “So, I want our people to come out to reciprocate the love extended to us by the presidency over the years particularly in social protection initiatives that had positively impacted many lives in the state.”

  • Osun tribunal: Oyetola to open defence January 30

    The Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has adjourned till January 30 for Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to open his defence.

    The tribunal is hearing the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in last July 14 governorship election, Senator Ademola Isiaka.

    They are challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaration of Oyetaola, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the election.

    The petitioners are alleging, among others, that the election results were doctored to favour the APC candidate.

    They are also alleging that the election was marred by fraud and that it was not held in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act.

    Tribunal Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, announced yesterday in Abuja, the nation’s capital, after INEC closed its case, that the tribunal would adjourn and return on January 30, when the second respondent (Oyetola) will open his case.

    INEC, the first respondent in the petition, opened its case last Friday and closed it yesterday without calling oral evidence, though it relied solely on documentary evidence.

    The electoral body, which tendered all documents on the election, including result sheets as announced by its officials, said it chose not to call oral evidence because the petitioners did not make out sufficient case to disprove the credibility of the election and the results it announced.

    INEC opened its case after the petitioners, who tendered documents and called oral evidence, closed theirs.

    Most of the petitioners’ witnesses were PDP’s agents at the polling units where the election was held.

    Majority of the witnesses, who were artisans and traders, were barely able to express themselves in English language.

    Some of them could also not read when called upon to go through portions of the statements they claimed were written for them by their lawyers.

    But they confirmed signing the statement.

     

     

  • Osun tribunal: Oyetola to open defence Jan 30

    The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal has adjourned to January 30 this year for the state Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola to open his defence.

    The tribunal is hearing the petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Isiaka, challenging the decision by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare Oyetaola, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the election.

    The petitioners are alleging, among others, that the election results were doctored to favour the APC candidate. It is also their contention that the election was marred with fraud and that it was not held in substantial compliance with the Electoral Act.

    Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo announced on Thursday, after INEC closed its case, that the tribunal will adjourn and return on January 30 when the second respondent will open his case. Oyetola is listed as the second respondent in the petition.

    INEC, listed as the first respondent to the petition, opened its case last Friday and closed on Thursday, without calling oral evidence, but relied solely on documentary evidence.

    The electoral body, while tendering all documents relevant to the election, including result sheets as announced by its officials, said it chose not to call oral evidence because the petitioners have not made out sufficient case to disprove the credibility of the election and the results it announced.

    Read Also: Oyetola: bottom-up approach pivotal to service delivery

    INEC opened its case at the closure of the case of the petitioners, who tendered documents and called oral evidence.

    Most of the petitioner’s witnesses were PDP’s agents at the polling units where elections held.

    Majority of the witnesses, who were artisans and traders, were barely literate and able to express themselves in English language.

    Some of them could also not read when called upon to read portions of the statements they claimed were written for them by their lawyers, but which they signed.