Tribunal confirms Ogun Gov. Abiodun’s election, dismisses PDP’s Adebutu’s petition

The Justice Hamidu Kanaza-led Ogun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, on Saturday, affirmed the victory of Gov. Dapo Abiodun, in the March 18 governorship poll.

Delivering its judgment which lasted about 11 hours, the tribunal said the petition lacked merit and summarily dismissed it.

Persecondnews recalls that the petition was filed by the People’s Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Mr Oladipupo Adebutu.

Adebutu and his party had urged the court to order INEC to conduct fresh election in 99 polling units in 41 wards across 16 local government areas of the state where elections were either not held and/or cancelled due to disruption and over-voting.

The petitioners wanted the tribunal to declare Adebutu winner of the election.

It said: “The Tribunal rules that the,
Petitioners have failed to prove any of the grounds of the Petition and thus are not entitled to any of the reliefs sought. The petition fails and is dismissed. The return of Governor Abiodun is affirmed”

Justice Kunaza held that the petitioners failed to prove the fact of their case, saying on the whole the petitioners have not successfully prove the allegation of non compliance with the electoral act and have not discharge the burden of prove.

On the issue of vote buying, the tribunal ruled in petitioners’ favour, saying the respondents could not prove the allegation beyond reasonable doubt.

“Tribunal finds that although cash cards were produced by 2nd Petitioner, those cards were funded on 16 and 17 March 2023 (eve of the elections) and those cards somehow found their way to some polling units on Election Day, vote buying must be proved you’d reasonable doubt, a threshold which Respondents failed to meet.”