Osun 2022: Election Tribunal grants Oyetola, APC access to inspect election materials

The Osun Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo, on Monday, granted Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) their application to inspect the materials used for the July 16 governorship election in the state.

The Tribunal also granted as part of the two applications brought before it by the petitioners, the motion exparte for a substituted service on the state governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

Oyetola and his party had earlier challenged the outcome of the July 16 governorship election whereby the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Adeleke as the winner.

While Justice Tertsea Kume, the Chairman of the Tribunal granted the petitioners’ request to scan the voters register used for the election and the ballot papers, he gave the order that Adeleke is summoned through substitution of service of notice.

Kume directed that the notice of summon should be pasted on the notice board of the Tribunal for the attention of the 2nd respondent, Adeleke.

Addressing journalists at the judiciary premises, Chief Yomi Aliyu (SAN), the Counsel to APC/Oyetola said every effort made by the court bailiff to serve Adeleke their application failed.

Aliyu stated that the bailiff explained, in an affidavit presented that he was threatened by the security when he went to serve Adeleke the summon notice at his home hence the prayer for substitution of service notice.

Speaking further, the legal counsel noted that the petition will be the fastest election petition in Nigeria adding that no time will be wasted on calling numerous witnesses.
He also said the tribunal sitting could be moved to another state due to security reasons.

“The bailiff himself wrote that he could not serve and had to leave the place for his safety and you know they are burning houses in Ede town and that is why people are saying that it is insecured.

Instead of twelve Senior Advocates today, you find only myself. The Senior Advocates felt insecure and they could not come and some other lawyers. We have about 52 lawyers and you see only five of us in court today,” he said.

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