Osun 2022: Tribunal admits documentary evidence tendered by Oyetola
The Osun State Election Petitions Tribunal on Tuesday admitted the documentary evidence tendered by Governor Gboyega Oyetola against the declaration of Ademola Adeleke as the state’s governor-elect.
Mr Oyetola and APC had, on August 5, submitted a petition before the tribunal in Osogbo.
The governor and the APC were challenging election results from 749 polling units across 10 local government areas of the state for various electoral malpractice, especially overvoting.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Adeleke as the winner of the July 16 governorship election, having polled 403, 271 votes against 375,027 polled by Mr Oyetola.
Among the documents admitted in evidence by the tribunal were the INEC Regulation and Guidelines for the election, INEC Manual for Electoral Officials, and Forms EC8As, which were election results for Osogbo, Ede North and Ede South, among others.
At the hearing on Tuesday, counsel to the APC, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), informed the tribunal that in accordance with paragraph four of the pre-hearing report of the tribunal, all documents formally tendered before the tribunal were certified true copies of reports as obtained.
Mr Fagbemi also said the documentary evidence sought to be tendered had been cross-checked by the respondents, and they all agreed that it should be tendered from the bar.
He then sought to tender the documents as listed on the schedule already submitted to the tribunal, which included the regulations and guidelines issued by INEC for the election.
Mr Fagbemi also sought to tender another evidence, which contained the “Schedule of the Documents” to be tendered.
Counsel to INEC, Paul Ananaba, however, objected to all the documents tendered by the petitioner.
Mr Ananaba said he would explain his objection in the final written address.
Similarly, Onyeachi Ikpeazu (SAN), the counsel to Mr Adeleke and Alex Izinyon (SAN) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), objected to the admissibility of the evidence, indicating that they would give reasons in their final addresses.
In his ruling, Justice Tertsea Kume, the tribunal chairman, admitted in evidence all the documents tendered by the petitioners and marked them as exhibits.
Mr Kume urged all parties to conclude the exchange of documents to be tendered before the tribunal on or before November 3.
He also urged both parties to call their witnesses from November 16 for a seamless judicial proceeding.
The tribunal adjourned until Wednesday for the continuation of the hearing.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Olubadan lauds Tinubu on release of Oriire kidnap victims, urges rehabilitation
“As a follow-up to this development, the government must ensure that all communities bordering the National Park are fully secure,” he said.
Heading 1
Iran’s new supreme leader vows revenge over father’s assassination by U.S.-Israeli forces
“We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers,” he said.
Heading 4
Trump administration subpoenas New York Times journalists over Air Force One story
The subpoenas seek to compel the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan.
Heading 2
Klopp agrees to replace Nagelsmann as Germany coach
Nagelsmann resigned last week as the men’s national team coach following Germany’s shocking exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Health
FG expands cancer funding, local drug production
“We are trying to domesticate expensive treatments by producing much-needed medicines locally and translating global research into action in our clinics,” he said.
Heading 3
Remi Tinubu begs Asake, Davido, Burna Boy to come rescue poor Nigerians from hunger
The first lady stated that buying exotic cars is good, but noted that the singers can still establish foundations to assist the struggling population.
