From John Dike, Osogbo

Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has rejected the judgement of the Election Petitions Tribunal which declared Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, as the winner of the July 16, 2022 governorship election.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo, the state capital, the Caretaker Chairman of the party, Dr Akindele Adekunle, said the judgement was compromised, saying it cannot be accepted.

He said the judgement was a booby trap set against the very existence and survival of the already strained democracy.

“Our party takes exception to the blanket rubbish of recent innovations introduced into the electoral process through the 2022 amended electoral act, as passed by the national assembly and assented to by President Mohamadu Buhari.

“That the use of Bimodal Voters Accreditation System used as primary tool in the election was made to look useless and immaterial in the adjudication process by Mr Tertse Kumeatas led majority judgement was anti-climax of sort in a country barely surviving on thin line of shrinking perseverance.

“Our party had always suspected Mr Tertsea Kume conduct in the course of hearing of the petition. Most times, the Benue State born controversial arbiter would get lost and get himself overwhelmed with his bias tendencies and enter the role of lead counsel to the petitioner, arguing points for them like a hired mercenary even when it was obvious the hired counsels for the petitioner had lost their way.

“This reckless abuse of privilege got to a head when Mr Kume had to step down hearing twice for the APC lead counsel to adjust and regain himself when the latter got lost in traffic of trying to paint white black in their final written address.

“What more, the premeditated stance of the tribunal chairman was clearly demonstrated in his side of the judgement with his choice words which we considered unethical, disrespectful and unbecoming of a judicial officer of such standing.

The caretaker chairman said even if the judgement was waybilled to him as they suspected by his petitioner collaborators, he should have disguised and exercised some restraints by expunging the foul languages obviously written for him in local parlance of Buga lyrics to disrespect an elected governor.

“This is more so, when he’s expected not to be too carried away or in the least, to be aware that his warped position was a mere starting point in the legal tussle in this context as provided in our extant laws.

“For us as a party, we understand the desperation of those behind the jankara judgement. We understand the trap they tried to set against the BVAS innovation in our electoral system. We understand the desperation goes beyond the Osun election or Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke.

“The evil plot is ultimately against the coming general election where in their usual fraudulent habit, millions of voter cards have either been cloned, registered with ghost names and are being made ready to be deployed especially for the presidential election.

“In this wise and in their fraudulent anticipation, the use of BVAS machine must be discredited ahead of their planned invasion of the electoral field. However ladies and gentlemen, this is a battle they cannot win!

“The experience in Osun calls for eternal vigilance of Nigerians. Nigerians should be vigilant because the poll robbers are not resting and are not even hiding it. They are on the streets boasting already with their trade to circumvent the process against popular choice of Nigerians. This we must all fight or the nation is doomed in their hands.

“The most disturbing aspect is that they have collaborators and willing accomplices everywhere. Either in the Election management body, security or even the hallowed temple of justice like the Buga exponent, who have been so paid to dare all consequences to deliver an absurdity of judgement, which was washed down his face alternately by his bench mate.”

The party’s chair said Nigerians must be ready just as they are ready for them in Osun State. “They will not win this time.”

“In the meantime, we call on the good people of our dear state, to be calm in steadfastness. They should be calm but be ready to defend their mandate with us. The bandits will not win when we move as one.”