Why we can’t speak on Osun tribunal verdict – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that speaking on the outcome of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo, which overturned Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the July 16, 2022 governorship elections, will be prejudicial.

Remember that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Adegboyega Oyetola had petitioned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Adeleke’s victory on two grounds: over-voting and certificate forgery.

While noting that the APC’s claim of overvoting was incomplete, the tribunal agreed that there was evidence of overvoting in the July 16 guber election.

“After deducting invalid votes due to overvoting, Adegboyega Oyetola scored 314, 931 while Governor Ademola Adeleke scored 290, 666,” the Tribunal concluded.

It also held that Adeleke is academically qualified to contest as Osun governor.

Meanwhile, speaking on the verdict, the national commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC, Barr. Festus Okoye, said the judicial process must be allowed to run its full course.

On the grounds of overvoting during the polls and how easy it was for politicians to compromise Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.

Okoye in a chat with LEADERSHIP said, “The judicial process must be allowed to run its full course.

“The governorship election tribunal is the Court of first instance in election petition proceedings. The aggrieved party in this instance has indicated a desire to appeal against the judgement. It will be prejudicial to prejudge the outcome of the appeal.”

He added that it is more prudent to await the outcome of the appeal.