… says ‘claims of over-voting unfounded
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Friday, restated his rejection of the tribunal judgement, saying he’ll appeal the verdict.
Adeleke, in an address to the people of the state on Friday, said that the discrepancies mentioned in the judgement of the tribunal chairman, Justice Tetsea Kume, were tantamount to a “miscarriage of justice.”
He also argued that the claim of over-voting in the judgement was unfounded.
Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, quoted the governor in a statement to have said, “My good people of Osun State, we have all heard the split judgement of the governorship election tribunal.
“Two members of the tribunal delivered two opposing judgements, the chairman and the member one. The member two did not deliver any judgment, she abstained.
“The chairman’s judgment affirmed the claim of over-voting, while the member one’s judgement agreed with our position as captured by the BVAS machines, which is the primary source of accreditation data of true accreditation on the day of the election.
“The reality of my election as the Governor of Osun State is captured in the member one’s judgement. The claim of over-voting in the chairman’s judgment was unfounded. This was clearly a miscarriage of justice. Based on the above, there was no majority judgment.
“My good people of Osun State, I am still your Governor. I have the right of appeal the chairman’s judgement and I have instructed my lawyers accordingly.
“You gave me your mandate, our election remains valid and by the grace of God we will triumph at last.
“I call on you all to remain calm and go about your normal activities, peacefully. Please, remain law-abiding. We have strong faith in God and in our judiciary.”
The statement added that counsel to Adeleke had filed an appeal against the tribunal judgement.
His lawyer has “also written the electoral commission intimating it of the appeal and seeking non-implementation of the judgement until the determination of the appeal.”