FORMER Governor of Osun State Gboyega Oyetola has congratulated his successor Ademola Adeleke over his victory at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, May 9.
In a statement on Wednesday, May 10, Oyetola said he had accepted the Supreme Court ruling in the interest of peace.
“I accept the court’s verdict, which upheld Adeleke’s election. While I pray for your tenure to be prosperous for our people and the state and I urged you to focus on delivery of good governance.
“Politics aside, time has come to let you know that the interest of the masses must be most paramount without any restriction or discrimination, whether based on political persuasion, creed or religion. Whatever personal differences we have must give way to the advancement of our great state,” he said in the statement.
Oyetola also urged his supporters and members of his political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to accept the judgment and move ahead.
“The present situation is a win-win for us. It is both a loss and victory rolled into one. While we lost Osun technically, we gained Nigeria,” he said.
The former governor also said he remains committed to the growth and development of the state and urged residents to do the same.
Oyetola and Adeleke had been involved in a long legal battle over the governorship election in Osun State.
Following the conclusion of the Osun gubernatorial poll, during which Adeleke emerged winner, the election petition tribunal ordered the withdrawal of his Certificate of Return, and declared Oyetola as governor on the grounds that the Adeleke’s election was marred by over-voting.
Reacting to the verdict by the tribunal, Adeleke described the judgment as “a miscarriage of justice” and “an unfair interpretation against the will of majority of voters.”
The verdict was followed by a series of appeals, and on Tuesday, May 9, the Supreme Court declared Adeleke winner of the election, noting that Oyetola failed to establish the allegation of over-voting.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via [email protected] or @ije_le on Twitter.