I trust Appeal Court to set aside Osun tribunal judgement: Adeleke

Governor Ademola Adeleke says he has faith, trust and confidence in the judiciary to set aside the Osun petition tribunal judgement nullifying his election.

A statement by Rasheed Olawale, spokesperson to the governor, issued on Friday in Osogbo, said Mr Adeleke made the remarks while receiving Unit-to Unit Ambassadors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Osun West senatorial district.

Mr Adeleke, who noted that the judiciary plays an important role in strengthening democracy, said the various judicial interventions had helped to stabilise the nation.

“Democracy revolves around the wheel of justice. Justice dispensation is the realm of the judiciary.

“All democrats must therefore have unshaken faith in the judiciary. I have that trust and confidence in the judiciary to right the wrong and deepen our democracy.

“I am a beneficiary of judicial intervention. I cannot  forget how the judiciary cleared me of forgery allegations.

“You can’t have a strong democracy unless we all hold the judiciary as the indispensable arbiter,” he said.

On the tribunal judgement that nullified his victory at the last governorship election in the state, Mr Adeleke said he would appeal the judgement, and expressed optimism that his mandate would be revalidated.

“So we are going on appeal and we trust we are going to get justice. I urge all of us to be calm and go about our daily activities peacefully.

“I understand how hard and emotional the judgement is to the people of Osun state, but we must vent our disagreement only through the judicial process.

“That is why there is an appeal process. We have all the grounds to appeal and we are doing that.

“So continue your campaign unit to unit. We are running Osun state to deliver on the will and aspirations of the people.

“By God and man, our mandate will be revalidated through the same judicial process,” he said.

The Osun election petition tribunal had nullified the election of Mr Adeleke.

The three-man panel, led by Justice Tertsea Kume, had ruled that the July 16, 2022, governorship election was not conducted in compliance with the electoral act.

(NAN)