The All Progressives Congress legal team in Osun State disowned a petition that challenged the victory of Governor Ademola Adeleke in the August 15 governorship election.
Adekunle Adegoke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and one of the leaders of the legal team, spoke exclusively in a telephone interview on Monday. He insisted that no petition was filed on behalf of the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, or the party before the tribunal.
Adegoke explained that the legal team met Oyebamiji and other party leaders shortly after the poll results were released. They discussed the next steps. Afterwards, they decided not to challenge the outcome. The choice rested on the need to reduce tension and allow peace to return to the state.
He stated that the team included about four Senior Advocates of Nigeria: Dr Biodun Layoonu, Dr Yomi Aliyu, himself and Dr Muritala Abdulrasheed. Professors of law such as Prof Mojeed Alabi also took part. From the second day after the election, they advised their client against going to the tribunal.
Adegoke said the legal team has existed for more than seven years. He added that the group knows where loopholes exist and what can be challenged. At this point, however, they wanted to show that the APC is not interested in causing unrest. The party has nothing personal against Adeleke or others.
He noted that valid grounds existed to challenge the result. Yet the team and the client chose to let the people rest. Oyebamiji later congratulated Adeleke willingly and without pressure.
Adegoke further said it would not be legitimate for Oyebamiji to authorise a petition after that congratulation. He described the document as a piece of paper without good substance. He stated that the APC legal team denounced the papers filed by individuals masquerading as APC lawyers. Neither the party nor its candidate authorised it.
Earlier, notices of two petitions appeared on the tribunal notice board in Osogbo. One listed Oyebamiji and the APC as petitioners against Adeleke, the Accord Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The second came from the Peoples Democratic Party. The PDP did not field a candidate in the election. Adeleke of the Accord Party polled 511,067 votes while Oyebamiji scored 444,815.
