The Osun chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) issued a statement condemning the "indiscriminate act of brigandage" demonstrated by political hoodlums thought to be loyal to Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Peoples Democratic Party after Adeleke's victory in the governorship election petition tribunal was overturned (PDP).
The party referred to the destruction of opposition candidates' campaign billboards and posters as "wicked, primitive, and heartless" in a statement issued by Tajudeen Lawal, who is now serving as acting chairman in the state.
On Friday, January 27, 2023, the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal officially removed Governor Adeleke and proclaimed former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola the rightful winner of the July 16, 2022, gubernatorial election.
There were reports of minor riots in Osogbo city on Friday, the day the tribunal judgement that declared Ademola Adeleke's election victory unlawful was delivered.
Prime 9ja Online reports that armed thugs attacked people in Osogbo. The APC candidate for the Osun Central Senatorial District, Senator Ajibola Bashir, had his campaign posters and placards torn down.
In response, Lawal instructed Adeleke to direct the party militia to prevent a full breakdown of law and order.
“There could not be any justification for the PDP to be promoting thuggery with a view to unleashing avoidable violence on the members of the opposition and their property.
“I ask the leadership of the State police command and other statutory security agencies in the State not to look away while the political hoodlums terrorise the innocent people of the State.
“The sacked Governor Adeleke has the option to appeal the tribunal judgement instead of resorting to self-help from the hoodlums who cannot influence the tribunal judgement that has been delivered in favour of our candidate, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.
“If the sacked Governor Adeleke truly has a genuine interest in allowing peace to reign in Osun State, he should put on his thinking cap and beat a retreat from his love for violence as such could only lead to an irredeemable perdition,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, Adeleke, governor of Osun State, reiterated his rejection of the Tribunal judgement in a statewide broadcast on Saturday, saying that he has instructed his attorneys to appeal to a higher court.
Governor Adeleke said the verdict was a miscarriage of justice due to inconsistencies in the Tribunal Chairman’s ruling.
“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 decisions, the Chairman and member one. Member 2 did not deliver any judgement; she abstained.
“The Chairman’s judgement affirmed the claim of over-voting, while Member One’s judgement agreed with our position as captured by the BVAS machines, which is the primary source of accreditation data of actual 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 judgement was unfounded. This was clearly a miscarriage of justice. Based on the above, there was no majority judgement,” he noted.
While reiterating his faith in the judicial system, Adeleke urged the people to maintain calm and carry on with their daily lives and emphasised that he was still the governor of the State.