Supreme Courtroom dismisses Adebutu’s enchantment, affirms Abiodun as Ogun governor

The Supreme Courtroom on Friday upheld the election of Dapo Abiodun as governor of Ogun State.

A five-member panel of the Supreme Courtroom, headed by John Okoro, held that the Peoples Democratic Occasion governorship candidate, Ladi Adebutu, did not show allegations of non-compliance with the Electoral Act through the conduct of the 18 March ballot.

“This enchantment is unmeritorious and must be dismissed and it’s hereby dismissed. The judgement of the Courtroom is hereby affirmed,” Tijjani Abubakar, who learn the lead judgement, stated.

Background

Mr Abiodun was re-elected because the Governor of Ogun State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in March 2023.

The Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) had introduced that Mr Abiodun polled 276,298 votes to beat his closest challenger, Mr Adebutu, who scored 262,383 votes.

However Mr Adebutu disagreed with the result of the ballot, prompting him to file a petition on the Ogun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Abeokuta to problem the outcome.

In his quest to overturn the governor’s victory, Mr Adebutu alleged, amongst others, that the ballot was not performed in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

READ ALSO: IGP refusing to analyze Gov. Abiodun for vote shopping for – Adebutu

He contended that the election was marred by irregularities and corrupt practices, noting that over 40,000 voters from his strongholds have been disenfranchised as a consequence of violence.

Additionally, he informed the tribunal that he secured the very best variety of legitimate votes solid on the election and, due to this fact, must have been declared the winner by INEC.

However, Mr Adebutu’s petition was dismissed by the Hamidu Kunaza-led three-member tribunal, affirming Mr Abiodun’s election. He proceeded to the Courtroom of Attraction to problem the choice.

Delivering judgement on the enchantment, the Courtroom of Attraction, in its majority judgement of the three-member panel that was delivered by Joseph Ikyegh, stated there was no motive to overturn the judgement of the tribunal.

However in her dissenting, minority opinion, Jane Inyang directed INEC to withdraw the Certificates of Return it issued to Mr Abiodun and, inside 90 days, conduct a contemporary election in some polling items within the state.

Arguing the case on the Supreme Courtroom, the electoral fee stated the governorship and presidential elections weren’t decided by a margin of lead however by the unfold of votes, consistent with the supply of part 179 of the Nigerian structure.

Equally, Mr Abiodun’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), prayed the courtroom to dismiss the enchantment.

He urged the courtroom to uphold Mr Abiodun’s victory because the validly elected governor of Ogun State, a prayer the courtroom upheld on Friday.