Supporters of both the People’s Democratic Party PDP, and All Progressives Congress APC are jubilating over the decision of the Appeal court to set aside ruling on the judgment of election petition tribunal on Oyo state gubernatorial election
To the APC, it is a sign that their claims of electoral malpractices was right and the court would remove Makinde while the PDP supporters said the decision has further nailed the coffin of the APC in Oyo state
The state election petition tribunal had affirmed Governor Seyi Makinde’s electoral victory
But the APC’S candidate, Oloye Bayo Adelabu appealed against the tribunal’s verdict alleging miscarriage of judgment because of the tribunal’s refusal to admit some of his admissible evidence to proof his case
The tribunal did not nullify or affirmed any results not call for fresh election but left the matter to be decided by the Supreme Court
In their ruling, four of the judges said that the judgment be set aside while only one was against the decision,
The constitutional provision of 180 days for election petition tribunal lapses and the court of appeal cannot order fresh election or returned the matter to the tribunal
Barrister Ayoola Ajayi and Barrister Kola Adegoke while speaking on the matter said “ The court of appeal have no right to order fresh election and that the duo of Makinde and Adelabu have to go and iron it out at the supreme court.
The development is not unusual, politicians were just giving the judgment different interpretations base on their sentiment but the truth of the matter is, Makinde remains the governor of Oyo but APC can also go to supreme court to challenge the tribunal judgments and request for fresh trial
