Osun State Governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state on Friday submitted a petition at the state election petition tribunal to challenge the outcome of the July 16 governorship election.

The governor was escorted by his wife, Kafayat, the APC Chairman in the state, Prince Gboyega Famodun, and some members of the state executive council.

The petition, which was personally signed by the Governor and the party Chairman, was received by the tribunal secretary.

The petition was filed to challenge the victory of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, who was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Governor Oyetola after signing the documents and handing it over to the tribunal secretary, left the venue without addressing journalists.

However, one of the petitioner’s counsel, Mr Kunle Adegoke, SAN, while speaking with journalists, said Oyetola and the APC have a very good case and are ready to prove beyond reasonable doubt.

“The petitioners have fundamental grounds to pursue the case,” saying that with the content of the petition they are confident of victory.

The Governor and the party submitted voluminous documents and are challenging 749 polling units across ten local government areas of the state for various electoral malpractice, especially over voting.

The party chairman had told journalists that the party has a very strong case and will do everything legally possible to reclaim its mandate.

Reacting, the Governor – Elect of Osun state, Senator Ademola Adeleke has vowed to defend and retain his electoral victory before the election petition tribunal, declaring that his emergence as Governor-elect is entrenched in total compliance with the law and will of the people.

In a statement issued on his behalf by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the Governor-Elect declared that the July 16th election was one of the most transparent election in recent Nigerian history, assuring that people’s mandate freely given against overwhelming odds will be defended and validated.

According to the statement, Senator Adeleke said PDP legal is taking appropriate action on the filing, calling on his supporters at home and abroad to remain calm as “This divine victory cannot be stolen through the backdoor.

“I urge the good people of Osun state 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 state”, the statement concluded.”