Gboyega Oyetola said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was the greatest beneficiary of the judgment delivered by the Osun Election Petition Tribunal on Friday.
While speaking with newsmen in his country home, Iragbiji, the APC candidate said the judgment showed that INEC needs to learn and check some anomalies before the general election.
He added that the verdict was also a collective victory for the state and the nation’s democracy.
“There is no victor, no vanquished. It is a collective victory for our state and our nation’s democracy.
“I am happy that the judgment had resolved the controversy of the July 16th, 2022 governorship election.
“INEC is the greatest beneficiary of the judgment. It will afford them the opportunity to look at all the anomalies and make necessary adjustments to prevent such mistakes now that the general elections are coming.
“I thank the people of the state and supporters for standing by us, for their courage and loyalty. I want to assure them that we are ready to continue to serve them,” he said.
Meanwhile, there was wild jubilation in Iragbiji following the tribunal judgment, with large numbers of residents jubilating over the verdict.
The election petition tribunal nullified the election of Ademola Adeleke.
The Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Tertsea Kume, while reading the judgment said the election was not conducted in compliance with the Electoral Act.
Kume said that there was indeed over-voting in 774 polling units in 10 local government areas in the state.
He said it was the duty of the tribunal to deduct the valid votes cast from the over-voting.
He said after the deduction of valid votes scored by candidates from the observed over-voting, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 314,931, while Adeleke polled 290,266 votes
Kume directed INEC to retrieve the Certificate of Returns issued to Adeleke as the elected governor
Meanwhile, Adeleke said that he would appeal the judgment which he described as a miscarriage of justice.
Credit- PM news
