Osun people’s mandate, freely given would be defended, validated – Adeleke

Bisi ABASS

Sen. Ademola Adeleke, the governor-elect of Osun, has assured that the people’s mandate, freely given against overwhelming odds, would be defended and validated.

Adeleke made the declaration after incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was defeated at the July 16 election filed a petition before an election tribunal on Friday challenging the election’s outcome.

Speaking on Saturday, Adeleke said his emergence as governor-elect was entrenched in total compliance with the law and in the will of the people.

The governor-elect claimed that the election was one of the most transparent in recent history in Nigeria, adding that he is ready to defend his victory at the election petition tribunal.

He said PDP’s Legal Department was taking appropriate action on the petition filed by Oyetola.

Adeleke said: “This divine victory cannot be stolen through the backdoor.

“I urge the good people of Osun who voted massively to reject bad governance to remain calm.

“We are doing the needful to defend their mandate.

“We will do all within our powers to ensure judicial validation of our victory as this is an election globally certified as a great advancement in electoral transparency and integrity.

“We also want to reaffirm our faith in the judiciary as a bastion of hope and justice.

“We have unshakeable trust in God that this election petition shall end in another landmark victory for us and the resilient people of Osun.’’

Recall, INEC declared Adeleke the winner of the election on July 17 with 403,371 votes to Gov. Oyetola’s 375,027 votes.