Osun Tribunal: PDP calls for calm over judgement

Fisayo Akinduro, Osogbo
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The Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State has called for calm among the members over the judgement of the Election Petition Tribunal which ordered rerun in Ede/Egbedore/Ejigbo federal constituency, Ede North and Obokun State constituencies.

The tribunal judgement affected three PDP elected lawmakers.

According to a release signed by the State chairman of the party, Mr. Olasoji Adagunodo and made available to newsmen in Osogbo, the Osun PDP said “the judgement of the tribunal is appallingly, shocking and will not stand the test of the public scrutiny and will be reversed at the Appeal court.

He likened it to what happened on July 5, 2019 against the mandate of the party’s candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke in the September 22, 2018 governorship tussle at the Supreme Court, saying “this present decision of the judiciary will fail and the public outcry will not favour them like it did on July 5th, 2019.”

Adagunodo said that the judgment is another failed attempt by the ruling party to gag the people and impose their candidates on the people of Osun State at all levels of governance, not only in Osun but in the whole country at large.

The PDP chairman said, the same tribunal that also delivered judgment in favour of the only petition against the APC candidate in Ifelodun State constituency by the PDP in Osun State out of 26 state constituencies despite obvious contravention of the constitutional provision of being eligible to vote and be voted for by the APC candidate who is not a registered voter in the state is a clear indication that the ruling party is not ready to tolerate the opposition party, no matter how insignificant it may be.”

Adagunodo expressed shock and reiterated that the politics of annihilation being practised by APC in Osun State is undemocratic but expressed hope that the party will pursue all the cases to the Appeal Court but implored the judiciary to discharge its duties conscientiously without bias so that its position as the last hope of the masses will not be seen as being compromised.”

He therefore called for caution and restraint among party members, urging them to be civil in their reactions towards the judgment, neither creating violence nor putting up any acts that may be inimical to the peace of the society.