Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Osun State Governorship election
for not possessing the required academic qualification at the time of the
election.
On March 22, 2019, the tribunal had voided the rerun election, declared
Adeleke winner of the original election and also directed the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue him a certificate of return.
However, in a twist of events on Tuesday, Justice Othman Musa annulled
Adeleke’s emergence as the flagbearer of the PDP in the state on the
grounds that he did not have the required educational qualification.
According to the judge, this is a violation of Section 177 of the 1999
Constitution as amended, which states that candidates contesting for
governorship positions should have secondary school qualification.
Wahab Raheem and Adam Habeeb, two members of the All Progressives Congress
(APC), had filed a suit seeking Adeleke’s disqualification from the
contest.
The Judge said findings by the court proved that Adeleke was enrolled in a
secondary school in 1976, but there was no record to show he graduated, as
his name wasn’t in the school register from 1980.
Bankola Akomolafe, counsel to the plaintiff, hailed the judgment. However,
Nathaniel Oke (SAN), counsel to Adeleke, stated that an Osun State High
Court had earlier ruled on the matter and certified Adeleke qualified to
contest in the election.