The election petitions tribunal has nullified the election of Osun State governor Ademola Adeleke, declaring his opponent, the past governor of the state, Adegboyega Oyetola, the winner of the July 16 2022 election.

Oyetola had approached the tribunal after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate the winner of the election. Oyetola, who was defeated as incumbent, alleged that the election was marred by irregularities, including over-voting, which took place in several polling units in the state.

Based on these claims, the electoral tribunal annulled the election of Adeleke, declaring the All Progressive Congress Oyetola the winner. Justice Tetsea Kume held that INEC did not comply substantially with the constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act.

However, the verdict has triggered mixed reactions across the country, with supporters of Adeleke taking to the streets in protest. Adeleke has also criticized the judgment, describing it as “miscarriage of justice.” The disappointed governor said he will challenge the ruling at the Appeal Court while urging his supporters to remain calm.

“I call on our people to remain calm. We will appeal the judgment and we are sure justice will be done. Let our people be reassured that we will do everything possible to retain this widely acclaimed mandate,” the governor said in a statement signed by his spokesman, Olawale Rasheed, on Friday.

Adeleke criticized the resolution of the over-voting question in favor of Oyetola, describing it as “an unfair interpretation against the will of majority of voters.”

Also, reacting to the judgment, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) described it as a “black market purchased judgment.”

In a statement issued on Friday by the Co-National Spokesperson for CUPP, Mark Adebayo, the coalition said it’s however optimistic that Adeleke will eventually get justice.

“We are not perturbed because justice will eventually be done on this case. The same way that fuel scarcity is biting hard across the country and motorists have to resort to the black market to buy fuel is the same way that we consider this judgment as a black market purchased judgment that we are confident will eventually be overturned by higher courts.

“It is a temporary attempt to rob the Osun State people of their sovereign will and the judicial processes through its remedial mechanisms will do real justice to correct this anomalous injustice in the name of judgment. That it was a split decision judgment says a lot about its lack of merit.

“The mandate willfully given by the Osun State people to Governor Adeleke remains intact and any attempt to steal it will fail woefully,” the CUPP said.

The tribunal’s verdict has added to the growing number of times that the courts have to decide the outcome of an election in Nigeria. The trajectory has been decried by democracy advocates, who expressed concern that it is hurting the essence of democracy. They said if it is not curtailed, the outcome of elections will no longer be determined by the will of the people.

People, there is a big problem in the world. And that problem can consume a big part of the human race. Yes, the US/NATO and Russia are now in an asymptotic relationship (flash back to secondary school Further Mathematics: an asymptote is a line which gets closer to a curve but never touches it in the finite distance).

Yes, as Russia ramps up in Ukraine, the US sends more weapons, and Russia ramps up, and the US ups its own game, and you have a vicious circle which will likely lead to something bad.

Ex-President Trump explained it clearly: it is a tank today, it could be nukes tomorrow. In other words, this thing will keep rising until one activates those nuclear warheads. This is very scary. And Trump is right on the money. As in asymptote, the construct is that the line will touch the curve at infinity. For geopolitical war games, that is the destruction of the human race.

Someone must #lead in this world.

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Comment 1: We have written severally on why they must pursue a peaceful solutions but it fell on deaf ears simply because of “ego”.

For now, let them settle the superiority agenda once and for all even if it is going to consume them.

One thing is sure, it won’t be world war but an European war.

No more colonies to be coerced into fighting for colonisers.

For once, Europeans will learn what it means to be a refugee.

Just my personal opinion/view and I may be totally wrong.

My Response: in primary school, my teacher explained that the northeast trade wind blows and brings the harmattan. In secondary school, in Geography, I had to plot that trajectory. If you check it, if you nuke any part of Europe, the chance the wind will blow into Africa is clear. So, do not think anyone is safe . You may pray it does not happen in Nov-March when the dust from the Sahara can cause more problems. The summary: any war between US and Russia is a world war and will affect all!

Comment 2: Dear Prof. I was wondering if you have written anything or come across an insightful piece that explores a viable way to end the war? Peacefully, of course. Please share with me.

My Response: I have read a lot actually but the solutions are apart. From RT (Ukraine should commit to not joining any military alliance and implement the Minsk agreement, an agreement to give some areas in Ukraine more autonomy. From NY Times, Russia should withdraw and allow Ukraine to follow its future.

Comment 3: At least for once you accepted Trump was right and Biden was wrong. Seems the Left is setting Biden up for eventual discard like Cuomo. His usefulness is over

My Response: I actually agree with Trump on most things even though I voted against him due to his education policies. I voted for Biden for one thing: expand opportunities for minorities in America via education. Nothing more as there is no difference between the two on core issues (if Trump is the president now, he will be doing what Biden is doing). For me, I believe that US govt should give more scholarships and forgive more student loans.

This is personal since without the govt scholarships I enjoyed, the $67,000 yearly school fees in Johns Hopkins would have prevented me from studying there.  I want everyone to have that opportunity and not just the 1%. So, I vote for one thing: who can open the pipeline for many via education. Trump reduced that fund. Biden has removed the lid. That is all I care about!

Comment 4: Prof, I never understood what an Asymptote was in secondary school. But with this explanation, I think it’s loud and clear. I hope the US/NATO line doesn’t meet the Russian curve.?