By Noah Nobet
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and his men are in panic mode following impending judgement of the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, which is expected to deliver its judgement on the case filed by local government chairmen and councillors elected during the twilight of ex governor, Adegboyega Oyetola administration.
The administration of Oyetola conducted elections into the local government areas in the state in October, 2022.
But few days after became governor in November, same year, a Federal High Court, sitting in Osogbo, annulled the election and ruled in favour of PDP which instituted the matter.
However, the chairmen and councilors, who were all elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress through their counsel, Muhydeen Adeoye, approached the Appeal Court in Akure and challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Osogbo to entertain the matter.
The appellant also urged the Appeal Court to dismissed the decision of the Federal High Court that annulled their elections, pointing out lack of jurisdiction by the court to hear a matter relating to state law.
One of the counsel representing Osun State Government in the matter, who craved anonymity, admitted that challenging the election before the Federal High Court by Adeleke and his counsel was an incurable error.
He further said, “we didn’t know why the two counsel that represented us in the matter at the Federal High Court would approach the court to seek redress when State High Court could have been the best option.
“In the last two sittings of the Court of Appeal, we all saw the handwriting on the wall. Lack of jurisdiction has marred our case and the possible outcome is that those elected chairmen and councilors may be returned to office by the court.
“Many people in government are scared over the impending judgement. In fact, the governor, Ademola Adeleke has directed his legal team to prepare for the Supreme Court.
“As it is this moment, all precedents are pointing towards the court returning those elected chairmen and councilors on the ground that the Federal High Court that annulled the election lacks jurisdiction to rule on the matter. All things begin equal, the judgement will be delivered before the end of January.
