The Court of Appeal in Akure, on Saturday affirmed the eligibility of Senator Ademola Adeleke, Osun State’s governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to stand for election as Governor.
Presided over by Justice M.A Danjuma, the court dismissed the appeal against the judgment of an Osun State High Court sitting in Oshogbo, which had confirmed the eligibility of Adeleke to contest for the governorship of Osun State.
The court had Justices R.A Abdullahi and P.A Mahmoud as members of the panel.
The Osogbo High Court had ruled that Adeleke was qualified to contest for the governorship, having been educated up to secondary school level.
Not satisfied with the high court decision, the runner-up in the gubernatorial primary election, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, proceeded to the appellate court to challenge it.
The Appeal Court agreed with Adeleke and consequently dismissed the appeal on three grounds.
It held that the trial court had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit and that the sponsored petitioner, one Kingsley Awosiyan from Ife Central had no locus standi to file the case.
The court also held that the matter was brought to court outside the stipulated 14 days, after the conduct of the primary election.
The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal, had in a spilt judgment, declared Adeleke winner of the governorship election.
