The former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has said that the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sealed the judicial fate of the former Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola with its “go lo lo lo lo and Buga won” judgment.
Odinkalu stated this on Tuesday after the Supreme Court affirmed the election of Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to Odinkalu, the “go lo lo lo lo and Buga won” judgment will go down as a prize winner in the annals of judicial infamy.
“It is well possible that the Osun State governorship election petition tribunal sealed the fate of @GboyegaOyetola’s judicial odyssey with that #OlololoJudgment. That will go down as a prize winner in the annals of judicial infamy,” Odinkalu wrote on his Twitter handle.
The Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in its judgment of January 27, 2023, nullified Governor Adeleke’s victory and declared Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the governorship election.
The tribunal as part of its lead judgment delivered by Justice T. A. Kume, stated, “Consequently, the 2nd Respondent did not score a majority of lawful votes cast at the election. The declaration and return is hereby declared null and void.
“The 2nd Respondent cannot “go lo lo lo lo” and “buga won” as the duly elected governor of Osun State in the election conducted on the 16th of July, 2022. See Kizz Daniel song, ‘BUGA’”
The remark by the tribunal generated controversy across the country as many lambasted the court for making such a comment while some took the comment as one of the reasons the tribunal nullified Adeleke’s election.
Governor Adeleke appealed the ruling and the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal condemned the controversial remark made by the judge.
Justice Muhammed Shuaibu of the Appeal Court noted, “The said remarks, though unwarranted and condemnable, but had in no way affect[ed] the conclusion reached by the tribunal,” adding that the controversial remark should not have found its way into the judgment of the tribunal.
The appellate court subsequently overturned the judgment of the election tribunal, hence, Oyetola appealed the Appeal Court ruling at the Supreme Court.
Recall that the Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled against the appeal filed by Oyetola and affirmed Governor Adeleke’s victory.
