Osun: Oyetola Defeats PDP At Supreme Court

About two weeks after he secured victory against Governor Ademola Adeleke at the tribunal in the contest for Osun 16 July governorship election, former governor Gboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress, APC again secured another crucial victory against Peoples Democratic Party, PDP at Supreme Court.

A Federal High Court presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite had on September 30, 2022 nullified the participation of Oyetola and his deputy Benedict Alabi in the governorship election.

The Judge based the ruling on the grounds that their nomination forms were endorsed by an acting Chairman of APC, who was also a serving governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni.

However, Justice Nwite’s judgment was set aside by the Court of Appeal, Abuja in a judgment in December 2022, a decision the PDP appealed to the Supreme Court.

However, while throwing out the appeal on Thursday, a five-member panel of justices, in a unanimous judgment led by Justice Centus Nweze, said the appeal by the PDP lacked without merit.

They therefore directed the lawyer to the PDP, Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN) to withdraw it.

The Supreme Court panel noted that the PDP could not, under the law, question the process leading to the emergence of Oyetola and Bendict Alabi as candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the election.