From John Dike, Osogbo 

Palpable tension has gripped the camps of the ruling Peoples Democratic party (PDP) and opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state, as Appeal Court delivers judgement on the disputed July 16, 2022 governorship election the state.

The State Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Osogbo, the Osun state capital had nullified the election that produced the PDP government of Senator Ademola Adeleke on the ground of over-voting.

Recall that the court of appeal in Abuja had reserved judgment in an appeal filed by Ademola Adeleke challenging his sack as Osun state governor.

Hearing in the appeal presided over by a three-member panel of the appellate court began shortly after the tribunal judgement. The panel of justices is led by Justice M.F. Shuaibu.

Adeleke was represented by Onyechi Ikpeazu, while Oyetola was represented by Lateef Fagbemi.

After taking submissions from the senior lawyers, the court reserved judgment for a date that would be communicated to parties in the suit.

In the appeal marked CA/AK/EPT/GOV/01/2023, Adeleke is the appellant, while Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are first and second respondents.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the PDP are also joined as the third and fourth respondents in the suit.

The Nigerian Monitor had reported that the Osun governorship election petition tribunal ruled in favour of Gboyega Oyetola, former governor of the state.

Delivering judgment on January 27, two out of the three-member panel held that Oyetola was able to prove that there was over-voting in some of the polling units.

Adeleke had rejected the judgment, describing it as “a miscarriage of justice” and “an unfair interpretation against the will of majority of voters”.

In the 31 grounds of appeal, Adeleke is praying the court for “an order setting aside the whole decision of the tribunal”.

He is also seeking “an order striking out the petition for want of competence and jurisdiction or in the alternative, an order dismissing the petition on the merit”.

Adeleke submitted that the tribunal exhibited bias when it said: “The second respondent cannot ‘go lo lo lo lo’ and ‘buga won’ as the duly elected governor of Osun state.”

However, there is tension immediately after the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja announced and communicated to the parties that the judgement will be delivered by 12noon tomorrow, Friday, 24, 2023 (today).

Members of both ruling PDP and APC had taken to their social media handles discussing what is likely to be the outcome of the Appeal Court ruling.

A glimpse at various Whatapp groups, Facebook pages and other social media handles observed that the members of the two parties were discussing the possibilities of any of the two political gladiators to either win or lose the Appeal.

On a popular group, Akintunde Sheriff, one of the media aides to Governor Ademola Adeleke, in a post experessed optimism that Appeal Court judgement will favour his boss.

He said: “Appeal Court judgement is 12pm tomorrow in the matter between Governor Ademola Adeleke, PDP, INEC against Oyetola and APC. God go with us. Make it a happy day for Osun State people”.

A resident of the state, Pastor Ifeolu Gbolahan who spoke to our correspondent, said both parties have gone spiritual in anticipation of possible victory at the appeal court.

He said while Adeleke camp believe that the Judgement will favoure them considering the prayers of the appeal of which maintained that one of the panel of Justices did not support the majority judgement, but only appended his signature on the majority judgement which they claim was not enough ground to make the Oyetola tribunal victory succeed at Appeal.

Others from Oyetola’s camp were optimistic that, the over voting which was the yardstick of nullifying Adeleke’s victory at the poll will also be affirmed by the Appellate court.

On a Facebook post, former Special Assistant to immediate past Governor Gboyega Oyetola on Political Affairs, David Olufunsho Fagbohungbe wrote: “Judgement in Adeleke Ademola Jackson Nurudeeen Vs. Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola fixed for Friday.”

“PDP will soon lose hope in the judiciary as usual.”

However, a diehard supporter of Governor Ademola Adeleke, Aboderin Ejiwumi said there is no cause for alarm.

Ejiwumi who hails from Boluwaduro Local Government Area of Osun in a group chat said: “The will of Osun people shall stand and nothing can alter it.”