* Tension palpable in Osun State
Various political camps in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State are in a mood of uncertainty as the Supreme Court delivers judgment today (2pm) in an appeal filed by Gboyega Oyetola against a judgment of the Appeal Court, which upheld the election of Ademola Adeleke as the governor.
Already security has been beefed up at strategic locations in the State to forestall any crisis that might arise after the judgment is delivered. To ensure victory for Adeleke, the Hausa community in Ifon-Osun, Osun State, held a special prayer at the Hausa Community Central Mosque.
Speaking shortly after the prayer, the Sarkin Hausa of Ifon-Orolu, Sulaiman Sabo, said Heads of the Hausa community are not politicians, but it is one of their duties to support the government of the day in prayer and for smooth running of governance in the State.
Meanwhile, a two-time governorship candidate of Lagos PDP (2015-2019), Jimi Agbaje, said that the apex court justices would uphold justice and wishes of the masses.
In a similar vein, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Diran Odeyemi, said the Supreme Court would definitely take a decision that would support the mood of Osun people that freely gave the mandate to the incumbent.
A former Commissioner for Information, Lani Baderinwa and member of APC expressed the optimism that the justices would take the best and upright decision today.
In January 2023, the tribunal sacked Adeleke and PDP, while it declared APC’s candidate Oyetola as the winner of the election.
Justice Tertsea Kume, who served as chairman of the tribunal, said the election was characterized by over-voting.
Adeleke appealed the decision of the tribunal before the Appeal Court, which on March 25, 2023 overturned the decision of the tribunal and affirmed the incumbent governor as winner of the July 16, 2022 governorship polls.
The three-member panel of the court, led by Mohammed Shuaibu, unanimously overturned the earlier decision of the election petition tribunal, which nullified Adeleke’s victory in January.