* Verdict excites Osun residents, as PDP hails judgement

*BVAS has come to stay – Atiku

The Supreme Court passing its verdict on Tuesday,  affirmed Sen. Ademola Adeleke as the duly-elected Governor of Osun State.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared that Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PD) polled 403,371 votes to defeat then-incumbent, Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who secured 375,027 votes.

But Oyetola and the APC rejected the result and headed for the tribunal.

The governorship election in the state was held on July 16, 2022.

In its January 27, 2023 majority verdict, the Justice Tertse Kume-led tribunal annulled Adeleke’s victory and declared Oyetola the winner.

The apex court held that the appellant failed to adduce enough evidence to prove his allegation of over voting in the July 16, 2022 governorship poll, strssing that there was no scintilla of evidence by the former governor to prove his allegations.

The judgment was affirmed and adopted by the entire five members of the panel.

According to all the members of the panel, the appeal lacked merit.

The panel also unanimously held that the failure of the election tribunal in Osun to consider the preliminary objections raised by Adeleke and the PDP at the trial level rendered the entire proceeding a nullity.

*Adeleke dedicates victory to God

On his part, Adeleke described the judgment as an affirmation of the will of the masses.

Reacting Tuesday in Osogbo, Adeleke said that the panel of justices only revalidated the will of the people, ordained by God.

The governor, commended the judiciary for the landmark judgment, adding ”Osun had emerged as a moral compass, affirming the integrity of my Lord justices.

“Today is the day our good God ordained to stamp His authority as the owner and giver of power.

“Today is that moment when the will of the people ordained by God survives the anti-masses plot of powerful forces.

” We therefore celebrate God almighty, the author and finisher of our faith.

“Our victory is a testimony that people’s will backed by divine will can withstand and survive plot of anti-masses.

” I must therefore express my heartfelt appreciation to great people of Osun for your deep support and on behalf of my family and party, I say thank you.

” To the judiciary, Osun has emerged as a moral compass, affirming the integrity of My Lord Justices.

Adeleke also sought for the support and cooperation of Osun residents and citizens, irrespective of party affiliations.

*Victory excites Osun residents

Residents of Osogbo, Ede and other towns in Osun on Tuesday poured into the streets to celebrate the Supreme Court’s affirmation of Gov. Ademola Adeleke as winner of last year’s governorship election.

The residents were also seen in convoys of vehicles with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag at Dada Estate and Lameco round-about in Osogbo celebrating the supreme court verdict.

In an interview with NAN, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Adedeji Oluwafemi, said that before the verdict of the court, he was optimistic that Adeleke would be declared winner.

Also, Mr Samuel Efunkunle, a PDP supporter, expressed happiness over the apex court judgement and prayed to God to grant Gov. Adeleke the required wisdom and knowledge to govern the state well .

Efunkunle called for the support of all stakeholders in the state to ensure that the present administration does better than what had been down before .

Similarly, Mrs Mary Ogundayo and Miss Comfort Adeyemi, both residents at Rinsayo Estate in Osogbo, thanked God for the supreme Court verdict that upheld Adeleke’svictory.

The duo appealed to members of the opposition, especially the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state, to join hands with Gov. Adeleke to ensure that the state attained heights of greatness .

Some market women and men gathered at the Dada Estate market , dancing and singing songs of happiness and joy over the supreme courts affirmation of Gov. Ademola Adeleke’s victory.

*BVAS has come to stay – Atiku

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, has stated that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has come to stay as a legal instrument for the accreditation and transmission of election results in Nigeria.

Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the PDP, in the February 2023 election, said this in a statement by his Media Office in Abuja on Tuesday.

It was in reaction to the Supreme Court’s affirmation of the victory of Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun in the state governorship election.

Abubakar said that the introduction of technology in the conduct of elections in Nigeria was a progress that could not be reversed.

“We are all witnesses to the copious references to the BVAS technology in coming up with this judgement.

“The law governing our elections has truly brought power to the people, and those power mongering politicians who believe that they can freely subvert the inherent power of democracy now have their hopes dashed.”

Abubakar urged Nigerians to take keen interest in the growth and development of democracy in the country.

“We must not put the laws in our hands but remain vigilant because, as the saying goes, ‘eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”

Abubakar congratulated the people of Osun State for the affirmation of their collective mandate given to Adeleke.