UPDATE: Osun ruling signals APC 2023 victory – Gbajabiamila

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has congratulated the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the last governorship election in Osun State, Adegboyega Oyetola, on his victory at the election tribunal.

Gbajabiamila said the tribunal verdict was “a welcome development and a fair deal” for the people of Osun who stood behind Oyetola to return for a second term as governor.

He said this according to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, titled ‘Osun Election Tribunal Verdict: Gbajabiamila Congratulates Oyetola, Says People’s Mandate Finally Restored’.

The Election Petitions Tribunal hearing  Oyetola’s petition against the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Ademola Adeleke on Friday annulled the result of the July 16 Osun governorship poll.

Justice Tetsea Kume, while delivering a majority decision, declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission did not comply substantially with the constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act.

He subsequently deducted the over-voting observed from the votes scored by the candidates and declared that Oyetola won the election, having polled 314, 921, while Adeleke’s score came down to 290, 266.

He directed INEC to withdraw Adeleke’s certificate of return and issue another one to Oyetola who won a majority of the lawful votes

The Speaker said with the judgment, APC remains the party to beat at all times, especially during the forthcoming general elections.

Gbajabiamila said the people of Osun had been vindicated by the verdict, calling on all APC members in Osun and across the country to remain law-abiding and brace up for the general elections.

The Speaker said he was glad that the governorship election tribunal was convinced that, indeed, there were anomalies during the election, which is why it restored the people’s mandate.

Gbajabiamila urged Oyetola to be magnanimous in victory at the end of the whole process.