UPDATED: Appeal Court nullifies Seyi Makinde’s election as Oyo gov

The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State on Monday nullified the election of the governor of the state, Seyi Makinde.

The court reversed the judgement of governorship election petition tribunal, which declared Mr Makinde of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, winner of the election.

There is a state of confusion over the new status of Oyo state governor Seyi Makinde.

The appeal court on Monday, November 11 ruled in favour of APC’s Adebayo Adelabu but refused to reverse the ruling of the tribunal which declared Makinde rightful winner


The appeal court, however, did not declare Makinde sacked or order a fresh election.

The court ruled in favour of the appellant Adebayo Adelabu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on all counts, just stopping short of declaring Adelabu winner.

The lead judge noted that the Tribunal had committed a miscarriage of justice by its failure to analyse the tendered documents and its failure to evaluate the pieces of evidence presented by the APC.

But the court made no declaration to upturn the ruling of the election petitions tribunal that upheld Makinde’s victory.

The court also did not order for fresh elections to be held. The development has led to varying interpretations of what really happened on social media.

PDP’s lead counsel, Eyitayo Jegede, told pressmen after the ruling that Makinde remains the governor since there has been no counter directive by the appellate court on his victory.

The lead counsel to APC, Adeboye Shobanjo, on his part, agreed with the court for allowing the appeal to hold.

He, however, stressed that the Tribunal delivered a one-sided judgement.

While some argue that the governor has been sacked, others say no such declaration was made by the court and so the governor remains in office. But largely, majority of users are confused.