Osun Guber: Drama as INEC Denies Own Document, Tribunal Receives Serious Evidence Against Adeleke

• There was drama at the Osun election tribunal on Tuesday, November 1, when INEC's lawyer, Paul Ananaba, objected to its own documents
• The documents were Certified True Copies (CTC) of the commission which were to be tendered at the tribunal by Governor Oyetola's lawyer, Chief Lateef Fagbemi
• However, the tribunal, after expressing surprise over Ananaba's objection, received the document and marked them as exhibits against Ademola Adeleke

At the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal hearing on Tuesday, November 1, the counsel of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Paul Ananaba (SAN), declined consent to documents issued as Certified True Copies (CTC).

Among the documents admitted in evidence that were declined by Ananaba are the INEC's Regulation and Guideline for the election, Manual for Electoral Officials, Forms EC8As (election results for Osogbo, Ede North, and Ede South local governments), The Sun reports.

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Before Ananaba objected to the admission of the documents as exhibits, Governor Gboyega Oyetola's lawyer, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), informed the tribunal that the said documents had been cross-checked by the respondents, adding that they all agreed that it should be tendered from the bar.

But when Fagbemi attempted to tender the documents in court, Ananaba raised an objection to all the documents already certified by INEC, arguing that he would give reasons for his objection in the final written address.

Surprised at this, one of the judges at the tribunal queried:

“You are raising objection even to your regulations?”

Similarly, the counsel for Ademola Adeleke, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, and that of the PDP, Alex Izinyon (SAN), also objected to the admissibility of the evidence with the same argument.

In response to the objections, Fagbemi sought to tender another piece of evidence that contained the ‘Schedule of the Documents’ but Ananaba again objected on the grounds that it was never pleaded.

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Responding to this, Justice Tertsea Kume queried Ananaba and reminded him that he earlier informed the court that he had read through the schedule of documents and had no objection.

The tribunal, in its verdict, admitted in evidence all the documents tendered and marked them as exhibits.

Supreme Court affirms Davido’s uncle, Adeleke as authentic PDP candidate

The Supreme Court on Thursday, September 29, ruled in favour of the Osun state governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke, in a suit seeking his ouster as the authentic gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The suit seeking his removal was filed by his bitter rival, Prince Dotun Babayemi, who argued that the primary election that produced Senator Adeleke was fraudulent.

Babayemi further argued that his election was conducted by the original delegates of the party.

Source: Legit.ng