Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has reacted to the judgement of the Osun Election Petition Tribunal which nullified the election of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

In a statement personally signed by him on Saturday, the former president commended the tribunal for the courage to nullify what he said was “clearly an illegality”.

The Tribunal had held in its ruling on Friday that Governor Oyetola’s election was null and void and returned Senator Ademola Adeleke as the duly elected governor of Osun State.

It also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to Governor Oyetola and present a fresh one to Senator Adeleke.

In his reaction, former President Obasanjo commended the three-man panel of judges which gave the ruling; although he noted that it was a first step in the legal process.

He was delighted that the ruling has given renewed confidence in the judiciary at a time he said there were coordinated efforts by some political leaders to undermine it.

The elder statesman stressed that the international community was keenly watching the events in the country, adding that how the electoral process being handled would have implications for Africa and indeed the world.

“By correcting what was clearly a desperate attempt to change the will of the Osun people, the Tribunal has saved Nigeria from great embarrassment and started the process of saving and strengthening our democracy,” he said.

Former President Obasanjo also commended Senator Adeleke for his statesmanship in going to court to seek justice.

According to him, seeking redress through the legal process is the right and proper thing to do in any decent society and it must be encouraged by all.

•Sourced from a Channels TV report