EXCLUSIVE: We Were On The Ground, Witnessed Irregularities – Oyetola's Camp

Abdulakeem Adebisi, the Special Assistant to Governor Gboyega Oyetola on Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), has said the party foot soldiers were on the ground to witness the irregularities that cancelled out the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke from the gubernatorial stool.

Adebisi made the revelation in an exclusive interview with AllNews Nigeria's politics desk on Wednesday after the tribunal's verdict.

The Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo today sacked Governor Ademola Adeleke as the state's duly elected governor.

In a split document of two to one, the tribunal declared that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Adeleke and issue the same to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, a decision Adeleke saw as a "miscarriage of justice”, vowing to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

But according to Oyetola's aide, the judgement strengthened the reach of democracy in the country, and the people's will has come to actuality.

When asked why recent Osun State elections have been full of controversy, Adebisi said, "It might be politically stressful but it helps the state to remain a politically important state in the country.

"I appreciate our democracy. It means that all avenues must be explored to arrive at something conclusive.

"And this time around, the right thing has just been done.

"As a democrat, it does not bother me much so long the rule of law is upheld.

"And as you can see today, that's an important feat to Nigeria's law system, " he added.

Because APC party members and dedicated foot soldiers were on the ground on election day, the party was confident that the law would fight for Governor Oyetola's mandate.

"We were on the ground and witnessed all that transpired regarding over-voting.

"We equally understand the provisions of the law, so our confidence was derived from that position", he disclosed.

He also maintained that the victory would make mending bridges with warring state factions of the party easier and resolve the APC Osun differences as soon as possible because the party needs "everyone to secure unassailable victory at both state and national levels".

A three-member panel of the tribunal held that Governor Oyetopa's camp was able to prove that there was over-voting in some of the polling units.

Tetsea Kume, who read the majority decision, held that INEC did not comply substantially with the constitution and the provisions of the electoral act.

Kume declared that Oyetola won the election, with 314,931 to defeat Adeleke, who scored 290,666, according to the tribunal.