Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Osun Governorship Tribunal Chairman, Mr Tertse Kume of bias, sell out, sabotage and deliberately undermining the new electoral act, vowing to report the judge to judicial disciplinary bodies.
Addressing a world press conference in Osogbo on Saturday, January 28, 2023, the party leadership, led by the State Caretaker Chairman, Dr Adekunle Akindele, accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of clearly way-billing the judgement, as the judge abandoned legal arguments and submissions to dwell on the trivial as foundation for his pronouncement.
Citing many examples of bias and personal hatred for the state governor by the Tribunal Chairman, the PDP also accused the Benue-born judge of serving as the mouthpiece of the petitioners during the hearing and of personal attacks on the Governor in the ruling, citing the ridiculous reference to ‘buga’ dance in the judgement.
Dr Akindele’s speech at the press conference read: “Our party had always suspected Mr Tertse Kumeata’s conduct in the course of hearing of the petition. Most times, the Benue State-born controversial arbiter would get lost and get himself overwhelmed with his bias tendencies and enter the role of lead counsel to the petitioner, arguing points for them like a hired mercenary, even when it was obvious the hired counsels for the petitioner had lost their way.
“This reckless abuse of privilege got to a head when Mr Tertse had to step down hearing twice for the APC lead counsel to adjust and regain himself when the latter got lost in traffic of trying to adumbrate white as black in their final written address.
“What more, the premeditated stance of the tribunal chairman was clearly demonstrated in his side of the stalemate with his choice of words which we considered unethical, disrespectful and unbecoming of a judicial officer of such standing.
“Even if the judgement was waybilled to him as we suspected by his petitioner collaborators, he should have disguised and exercised some restraints by expunging the foul languages obviously written for him in local parlance of Buga lyrics to disrespect an elected governor. He shouldn’t have gone so low, low, low!
“This is more so, when he’s expected not to be too carried away or in the least, to be aware that his warped position was a mere starting point in the legal tussle in this context as provided in our extant laws.
“For us as a party, we understand the desperation of those behind the jankara judgement. We understand the trap they tried to set against the BVAS innovation in our electoral system. We understand the desperation goes beyond the Osun election or Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke.
“The evil plot is ultimately against the coming general election where in their usual fraudulent habit, millions of voter cards have either been cloned, registered with ghost names and are being made ready to be deployed especially for the presidential election, in which they could smell their total rejection far ahead of time.
“In this wise and in their fraudulent anticipation, the use of BVAS machine must be discredited and rendered impotent ahead of their planned invasion of the electoral field with their fraudulent antics. However ladies and gentlemen, this is a battle they cannot win!
“The experience in Osun calls for eternal vigilance of Nigerians. Nigerians from far and near must be vigilant because the poll robbers are not resting and are not even hiding it. They are on the streets boasting already with their trade to circumvent the process against popular choice of Nigerians. This we must all fight or the nation is doomed in their hands.
“The most disturbing aspect is that they have collaborators and willing accomplices everywhere. Either in the Election management body, security or even the hallowed temple of justice like the Buga exponent, who have got drenched in his bias disposition to dare all consequences to deliver an absurdity of judgement, which was washed down his face alternately by his bench mate.
“Nigerians must be ready just as we are ready for them in Osun State. They will not win this time. There should be an end to exploits of minority crooks in our land.
“In the meantime, we call on the good people of our dear state, to be calm in steadfastness. They should be calm but be ready to defend their mandate with us. The bandits will not win when we move as one”, the party chief concluded.
The Election Petitions Tribunal hearing the APC petition against the victory of Ademola Adeleke of the PDP on Friday, January 27, annulled the result of the July 16 Osun governorship poll.
Justice Tertse Kume, who delivered a majority decision, asserted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not comply substantially with the constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The tribunal declared that INEC should withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Adeleke and issue the same to former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.
