The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has reacted to the Supreme Court verdict affirming Governor Ademola Adeleke’s victory.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that in a statement released by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Chief Kola Olabisi, the APC expressed acceptance of the judgement, acknowledging that in every contest, there must be a winner.
However, the party also stated that it would not shy away from its opposition responsibilities in keeping the government accountable, despite congratulating Governor Adeleke on his victory.
According to Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, the Acting Chairman of the APC in the state, the party is a democratic political body that upholds the rule of law and accepts the finality of the Supreme Court’s decision. Lawal emphasized that, though the party is not pleased with the outcome, there is no legal recourse to challenge the verdict of the highest court in the land.
He said: “The members and supporters of our party should refuse to be downcast with the current political situation in the state as the nature of politics is that one doesn’t win all the time.
“The prevailing condition of the winner(s) of today does not make him the perpetual winner as the political office which was contested for is a tenured one for a period of four years after which we shall have the opportunity to slug it out with those who are rejoicing over today’s victory.
“It is however, worthwhile to state that our party and our candidate, former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, might have lost the election as it was pronounced by the apex court of the land but it is visible to the court of the public that they never lost the battle.
“That Osun State is a common patrimony is the reason why we are assuring the PDP and the government that we shall be meeting in the trenches when it’s constitutionally ripe to do so.
This newspaper had earlier reported that the Supreme Court on Tuesday (today) upheld Ademola Adeleke’s victory in the Osun State governorship election, dismissing all disputes against him by Adegboyega Oyetola.
In its judgment, a five-man panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice John Okoro held that the BVAS was the sole foundation and focal point of Adeleke’s case.
The court maintained that Oyetola’s argument that the presiding officers who conducted the elections in 774 polling units did not use the BVAS machine, could not substantiate it.
The court noted that, based on INEC regulations and guidelines, an election result can only be collated if the results agree with the figures in the BVAS and the ones transmitted to the INEC Results Viewing Portal, IRev.
