The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refused to join the All Progressive Congress (APC) and its candidate Adegboyega Oyetola in appealing against the judgment of the Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal which last week ruled in favour of Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
It would be recalled that INEC was the first respondent in the case instituted at the Tribunal by Adeleke and PDP
The APC and Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola on Thursday appealed against the March 22 judgement by the election tribunal. The Tribunal had, by a majority judgment of two members, voided the election of Oyetola and pronounced Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) winner. It then asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him a certificate of return.
A reliable source within INEC who spoke with our correspondence on the basis of anonymity because he was not mandated to speak to the media on the issue confided that the Electoral body is not appealing because it knows that it has a very bad case.
“What do you want us to appeal against”? Go and study the full judgement, you will see that INEC has a very bad case. Appealing will further dent our image”, the source said.
In a 39-ground notice of appeal filed by lawyers, led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), the APC and Oyetola faulted the majority judgment given by Justices Peter Obiora and Anyinla Gbolagunte on the grounds that it was perverse, replete with contradictions and not supported by evidence led by the petitioners.
APC and Oyetola want the Court of Appeal to uphold their appeal, set aside the majority judgment and dismiss the October 16, 2018 petition by PDP and Adeleke
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