Panic in Oyo PDP Despite Gov Makinde’s Appeal Court Victory

Panic in Oyo PDP Despite Gov Makinde's Appeal Court Victory

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The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has affirmed the victory of Seyi Makinde as Oyo State governor. Makinde was the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Oyo State governorship election.

Specifically, the Appeal Court upheld the decision of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal. The Tribunal had declared Makinde the winner of the elections held on March 9, 2019. Equally important, the Appeal Court ruling was a unanimous judgement delivered by Justice Abubakar Yahaya on Monday.

Furthermore, the appellate court dismissed the appeal filed by the candidate of the All  Progressives Congress (APC) in the election, Mr Adebayo Adelabu.

Nevertheless, Justice Yahaya disagreed with the lower court on issues bordering on documents tendered by the APC. Yahaya, the lead judge of a four-man Appeal Court panel, held this position despite upholding the decision of the Tribunal.

Indeed, he held that the documents tendered by the PDP ought to have guided the Tribunal through proper investigation. Further, he held that the pieces of evidence were also not adequately evaluated.

Additionally, Justice Yahaya revealed that the Tribunal had committed a miscarriage of justice. He disclosed that its failure to analyse the tendered documents; as well as its failure to evaluate the evidence presented by the APC amounted to a miscarriage of justice.

Meanwhile, the PDP lead counsel, Eyitayo Jegede, affirmed that Makinde remains the governor. Jegede noted that this was the case since there has been no counter-directive by the appellate court on Makinde’s victory.

Also, lead counsel to the APC, Adeboye Shobanjo, agreed with the court for allowing the appeal to hold.

However, he stressed that the Tribunal delivered a one-sided judgement.

Meanwhile, the dispute over the polls is set to go all the way to the Supreme Court. Reports monitored by 1st News in Oyo State indicate that both parties are preparing their documents for appeal at the Supreme Court, Abuja.

Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde