Last Tuesday, a five-member panel of the apex court affirmed the judgement of the Court of Appeal that reinstated Ademola Adeleke as Governor of Osun State.
Delivering judgment in the appeal by Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Justice Emmanuel Agim, who read the lead judgment, said the appellant and his party failed to tender relevant materials, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), from the 744 polling units in the state and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Voters Register or form EC8A showing the number of votes cast at each unit.
The Supreme Court held that Adeleke was the duly elected governor of Osun State.
The apex court, which said it found no reason to set aside the verdict of the Court of Appeal in Adeleke’s favour, also awarded N500, 000 damages against Oyetola and the APC.
The apex court held that though Oyetola alleged that Adeleke won through over-voting in 744 polling units in the state, the ex-governor failed to adduce any substantial evidence to support his claim.
“It is glaring that the appellant did not provide in evidence any BVAS, but sought to prove over-voting by means of a report of examination of INEC’s database or backend server,” the court said.
In his reaction, Adeleke said the victory emphasised that “the will of the people ordained by God survives the anti-masses plot of powerful forces”.
He thanked the residents of the state for their support and promised to be “a truly pro-people governor”.
He said, “State power is of God and He bestows it on whoever he wills. I will remain God-driven, divinely inspired and govern with the fear of God.
“Our governorship is an affirmation that a government of the people, by the people and for the people is possible.
“Our victory is a testimony that people’s will, backed by divine will, can withstand and survive plots of anti-democratic elements.
“To the judiciary, Osun has emerged as a moral compass, affirming the integrity of my lord Justices.
“Your affirmation for truth and the people’s will consolidates and strengthens our democracy. On behalf of the Osun people, we appreciate you, and we adore your love for justice and equity.
“To all stakeholders in the Osun project, be assured that the revalidation of our mandate is a challenge, a call to duty, a fresh demand for more dividends of democracy.
Also, President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, acknowledged the court’s decision and praised the significant role played by the judiciary in upholding the rule of law and democracy in Nigeria.
In the statement, Buhari reminded politicians and their supporters that the primary objective is to ensure that the people of Osun State experience the benefits of good governance, which will create a prosperous, peaceful and stable state.
Buhari said that elections should be seen as a means to an end, which is the progress of the people in a peaceful environment, rather than unending bickering.
According to him, this is the time for inclusion and harmony in the state at the end of litigation.
The President noted that Governor Adeleke would continue to explore the abundant resources in Osun and contribute to national development and prosperity.’
He urged all indigenes and residents of the state to support the Ademola Adeleke Administration towards achieving its goals and objectives and is desire to promote the growth of individuals and businesses.
Similarly, the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, also congratulated Adeleke.
In a statement by his media aide, Tunde Rahman, Tinubu said, “The apex court in the land has spoken and all of us must obey its verdict. It is the right thing to do for democracy and rule of law to continue to thrive in the land.
Tinubu who also commended the immediate-past governor of the state, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, for exercising his democratic rights as the constitution allows him to do, advised Adeleke to “immediately settle down to work”.
Speaking on the task ahead after the court victory, Adeleke said that his achievements during his 100 days in office showed that he is ready to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of Osun State.
He reiterated that his administration was commited to delivering good governance by fulfilling his campaign promises and satisfying people- oriented needs, adding that ,”in his quest to dish out dividends of democracy to the people, he became blind to party affiliation”.
Talking about achievements in his 100 days, Adeleke said all abandoned property and projects by the previous administration were redefined and completed.
He listed some of the ongoing and completed projects, including the provision of borehole water in each of the 332 wards across the state; construction of 20km roads; presentation of N518m to Communities for infrastructural development; Imole surgical and medical outreach targeted at 2,000 persons in each of the nine Federal Constituencies in the state, making a total of 18,000 beneficiaries who received free surgeries; and rural electrification projects.
Others accomplishments listed include the payment of salaries and pensions arrears owed by the past administration since 2016; enrollment of 3,332 Osun indigenes on the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS) to ensure adequate healthcare access for the vulnerable for five years; the construction of broken bridges at Bokusoro/Adeleke area in Iwo, among other achievements.
The governor pledged to embark on key projects across the state. He assured workers in the state that all outstanding salaries would be paid in due course.
Adeleke called on all stakeholders in the state, including his predecessor, Oyetola, to join him in moving the state forward.
He said the people had started enjoying the dividends of democracy, with what he achieved during his 100 days in office.
“They feel the impact of government already because I promised that my 100 days in office will be a landmark of achievements. It is not going to be business as usual.
In my 100 days I have done a lot and that is why during the last general election we were able to win the three senatorial seats, the entire House of Representatives slots and we won 25 seats in the Osun State House of Assembly.
“A lot is going on in Osun. The people love me and I love them more.
He has promised to continue the good work, correct the mistakes of the past and not rest until the state is transformed.
Speaking with THEWILL, Bayo Alamu, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said that with the end of litigation in Osun, Adeleke would settle down to govern the state. According to him, the governor should be thinking of constituting a solid cabinet that will assist him in the administration of the state.
“I will suggest that the governor should, in constituting his cabinet, look for the best brains within and outside his political party, the PDP. The task ahead is huge and he must not fail the people of Osun State.
“He has started very well, but he needs to consolidate on the gains of the first 100 days in office. Infrastructural development of the state must continue on a large scale. The people have put their trust in him and he must not disappoint them,” he said.
Oyetola, in a statement he personally signed after the court’s verdict, charged Adeleke to focus on the delivery of good governance and make the security of the state top priority.
AYO ESAN, has been actively reporting and analyzing political events for different newspapers for over 18 years. He has also successfully covered national and state elections in Nigeria since the inception of this democracy in 1999.
