PARIS OLYMPIC GAMES
The governorship tussle in Ogun State has finally been laid to rest, with the Supreme Court affirming Dapo Abiodun as the duly elected governor of the state.
A five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Tijjani Abubakar on Friday, in his judgment, struck out the appeal filed by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Ladi Adebutu in the last election.
Abubakar said: “In the end, this appeal is unmeritorious and deserves to be dismissed. It is hereby dismissed.”
Persecondnews recalls that the Supreme Court, on January 11, reserved judgment in an appeal the PDP and its candidate, Ladi Adebutu, filed to challenge the outcome of the governorship election that was held in Ogun State on March 18, 2023.
The appeal had sought to nullify Gov. Abiodun’s victory, who was re-elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
After all parties adopted their final briefs of argument, a five-member panel of the supreme court, presided over by Justice Inyang Okoro, adjourned to deliver judgment on the electoral dispute.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared that Abiodun of the APC polled a total of 276,298 votes to defeat his closest rival, Adebutu of the PDP, who garnered a total of 262,383 votes.
Displeased with the outcome of the poll, Adebutu approached the Ogun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, insisting that he was the valid winner of the gubernatorial contest.
He, among other things, alleged that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
He alleged that the election was marred by irregularities and corrupt practices and that over 40,000 voters from areas where he had followers were disenfranchised as a result of violence.
Persecondnews recalls that Adebutu’s petition was dismissed by Justice Hamidu Kunaza-led three-man tribunal that affirmed Abiodun as the bona fide winner of the poll.
Also, the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, on November 24, 2023, in a split judgment of two to three, upheld the decision of the tribunal.
While the appellate court, in its majority decision that was delivered by Justice Joseph Ikyegh, found no reason to dislodge the judgment of the tribunal, in her minority verdict, Justice Jane Inyang directed INEC to withdraw the Certificate of Return it issued to Abiodun and, within 90 days, conduct a fresh election in some polling units in the state.
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