Police deploy armed men in Osun

There was an unusually large deployment of armed police operatives at strategic locations in Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Friday as the Court of Appeal rules on a case emanating from the July 16, 2022 governorship poll in the state.

The Appeal Court panel that heard the case would give its judgement in Abuja on Friday, raising tension across the state.

At the popular Olaiya Junction, Old Garage, Okefia and Lameco Junction – all within Osogbo metropolis – the presence of armed police operatives was observed by our correspondent who went around the town.

Some patrol vehicles of police and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were also sighted moving around Osogbo blaring sirens.

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Senator Ademola Adeleke of the PDP was returned elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission, but the APC candidate at the poll, Adegboyega Oyetola, had challenged the victory before Justice Tertsea Kume-led Tribunal panel, which in a majority judgement delivered on January 27, annulled Adeleke’s victory and declared Oyetola the winner of the poll.

However, a minority judgement by Justice B. Ogbuli dismissed Oyetola’s petition and declared Adeleke the duly elected governor, having scored majority of lawful votes.

But after hearing appeal by the INEC, Adeleke and PDP against the tribunal judgement, the Appeal Court informed the parties that it would deliver the judgement on Friday.

Apart from the police operatives that were deployed across the state capital, Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, said it has deployed men to critical infrastructure in the state ahead of the judgment.

A statement by the acting Public Relations Officer of the Command, Kehinde Adeleke, further read, “ahead of Friday’s Appeal Court judgement on the matter between Governor Ademola Adeleke and Alh. Adegboyega Oyetola, there is a strategic deployment of personnel around critical infrastructure in the state.

“There will also be patrol by an armed detachment of the Corps in readiness for emergency response. The Command is ready to prevent any breakdown of law and order arising from possible protests by aggrieved parties.”