THERE was wild jubilation in Osogbo, capital of Osun State on Thursday as Governor Gboyega Oyetola led members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to celebrate his victory at the Court of Appeal, which upheld his election as the governor of the state.
The election petition tribunal had a few months ago nullified Oyetola’s election, declaring Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aa the winner of the September 22 governorship poll.
However, the upturning of Adeleke’s victory by the Court of Appeal on Thursday, in Abuja sparked wild jubilation among the supporters of the APC as many of them trooped to the streets in Osogbo to celebrate the victory.
Oyetola, who was spotted waving broom, the symbol of the APC inside his open roof Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) around Oke-fia movie in a long convoy to celebrate the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
Reacting to the judgment, Oyetola described it as the long-awaited expectation of the generality of the people, saying the outcome of the judgment prompted the people to jubilate.
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He contended that facts have been revealed already by the appellate court, stressing that he would not be surprised if the Senator Adeleke decide to approach the Supreme Court.
Oyetola averred that “this is the judgement that the people of Osun have been waiting for. I am happy and the judgement is wonderful. This is what people want to hear. They came out today without being prompted to rejoice and celebrate this judgment,” he said.
Commenting on his chances at the Supreme Court should Adeleke decided to approach it, Oyetola said, “I am not bothered about that. The facts have been stated already by a competent court. We are ready for them. Even the people of Osun are elated as you can see and this shows that we will win again at the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, the Osun APC in a statement signed by its director of publicity, research and strategy, Barrister Kunle Oyatomi said the judgment had put to rest the boast of the PDP.
The statement reads, “this judgement has put the records straight much beyond the controversy over September governorship election.
“There has been a lot of expectations and anxiety on both sides until this morning when the judgment was given in favour of the APC.”
“As far as we are concerned, we have no doubt about the fact that we are the majority party in Osun and the facts on the ground tell the story eloquently. Few months after the erstwhile disputed governorship election, the National Assembly elections took place.
“APC won two of the three Senate seats; Six of the Nine Reps seats; and 23 of the 26 House of Assembly seats!!
“How then could we have lost the governorship election? We may not be able to explain what was behind Adeleke’s performance that he came so close in November.
“Although we won, Adeleke’s score sheet was inexplicably abnormal. In contrast to the election four months after, the opposition’s so-called victory would have been a farce.
” We believe it is time to move on and concentrate efforts on the transformation work that started in 2010 and which the people have mandated Gov Gboyega Oyetola to continue and improve upon.
But, in his reaction, the chairman of the PDP in Osun, Hon Soji Adagunodo said the opposition party would study the judgment appropriately and challenge it at the Supreme Court.
In a telephone chat with Tribune Online, he said “the judgement is based on technicalities which we will address at the Supreme court.
“With the evidence we presented, we expected victory but that is democracy at work. We are approaching the Supreme court.