In a matter of hours, the Federal High Court in Abuja will today deliver judgment in a suit seeking the disqualification of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the July 16 governorship election.
Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the date on Wednesday after counsel for the parties adopted their processes and presented their arguments in the matter.
The plaintiff in the suit and a chieftain of the APC, Moshood Adeoti, had filed the matter through his legal team led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chiesonu Okpoko.
Anxiety grips Oyetola’s camp
Obviously an unusual anxiety has greeted the nerve of Oyetola’s camp, supporters despite statement predicting the outcome to be favourable for the incumbent governor.
The Punch had reported that Media Adviser to the Osun State APC Chairman, Kola Olabisi, said there was no merit in the case instituted against Oyetola by Aregbesola’s faction.
He said, “Ideally no one is expected to comment on any issue before the court of law. We know that there is nothing in that case that will merit Adeoti and his people to be celebrating. We expect the court to say that Adeoti and his people have no case.
“So, the truth will prevail tomorrow and we are confident that Oyetola will carry the day”.
However, The Osun State All Progressives Congress faction backed by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, was on Wednesday hopeful that the Federal High Court in Abuja would disqualify the state Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, as the APC governorship candidate in Saturday’s election.
The Chairman of the faction, The Osun Progressives, Mr Lowo Adebiyi, who disclosed in an interview on Wednesday with The Punch.
He said, “We have a court judgment coming up tomorrow (Thursday) by the grace of God and we are going to win that case for Alhaji Moshood Adeoti to represent the APC (at the governorship poll). We are going to vote for APC on Saturday. We are in the party.”
Asked if the group has been canvassing votes, Adebiyi said, “We are doing our best but we are not mobilised. The governor’s side refuses to mobilise us, but we have told our people to vote for APC.
Tinubu, Lawan, other APC bigwigs rally support for Oyetola’s second term bid as Obi storms Osogbo for LP governorship candidate
A successful experiment executed in Ekiti state which saw APC clinching victory, this time ahead of Osun poll, the APC held a mega rally in Osogbo to canvass support for its governorship candidate before the deadline for campaigns.
This is coming at the same Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has stormed Osogbo in a bid to support his party’s governorship candidate for Osun State, Mr Lasun Yusuff.
Meanwhile, APC Party leaders at the event held on Tuesday include APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno, and Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, among others.
APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, as well as the party’s vice-presidential candidate, Kassim Shettima, were also present.
Tinubu at the grand rally for the re-election of Oyetola on Tuesday, said, “They said some are in Labour (Party). They will remain labourers till death.”
Meanwhile, Labour Party didn’t allow his words unattended as Mr Peter Obi, and the governorship candidate of the party for Osun State, Mr Lasun Yusuff, on Wednesday berated the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over his comment at his party’s rally on Tuesday.
Obi, who was in Osogbo also to rally support for Yusuff at the governorship rally organised by the party, while addressing the LP members, advised them that such a comment should be returned with love.
Osun election being one of Nigeria’s off-circle election is scheduled for Saturday, 16th July 2022 with APC, PDP, LP as major contenders.