*Adeleke rejects verdict, heads to appeal court
The Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo has sacked Senator Ademola Adeleke as governor.
The tribunal, in a split decision of two to one, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return earlier issued Adeleke and issued same to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
The majority judgment read by the Chairman, Justice Tertse Kume, said Oyetola scored the majority lawful votes of 314,931 against Adeleke’s 290,266.
Meanwhile, Adeleke has rejected the tribunal judgment, which sacked him on Friday morning.
Adeleke, through a statement by his spokesperson Mallam Olawale Rasheed, described the judgment as a “miscarriage of justice” vowing to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
Adeleke faulted the resolution of the over-voting question in favour of former Governor Oyetola, calling it “an unfair interpretation against the will of majority of voters.”
He urged his supporters to remain calm, insisting that he remains the rightful winner of the July 16 election.
He said: “I call on our people to remain calm. We will appeal the judgement and we are sure justice will be done. Let our people be reassured that we will do everything possible to retain this widely acclaimed mandate.”
* Details later…