Ogun: Adebutu Loses As Tribunal Affirms Dapo Abiodun’s Election
- By Metropolix ~
- October 1, 2023 --
- 0 Comment
– Adebutu, Abiodun
By Adeola Idris
The Ogun governorship petition tribunal has upheld the election of Dapo Abiodun as governor of the state.
In a unanimous decision, on Saturday, the tribunal, led by Hamidu Kunaza, held that the petition by Ladi Adebutu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was “incompetent, defective and lacking in merits.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Abiodun the winner after polling 276,298 votes, while Adebutu scored 262,38 and Biyi Otegbeye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came a distant third with 94,754 votes.
The PDP and Adebutu approached the tribunal, alleging that the governor did not get the majority of valid votes cast in the March 18 governorship election.
In the suit marked EPT/OG/GOV/03/2023, the petitioners accused INEC of non-compliance with the Electoral Act and corrupt practices during the election.
The petitioners also alleged that elections were disrupted by thugs in over 99 polling units, disenfranchising over 40,000 voters from participating in the election.
Adebutu sought an order nullifying Abiodun’s election and declaring him as the winner of the election.
However, the tribunal dismissed the petition.
“On the whole, the petitioners have not successfully proven the allegation of noncompliance with the electoral act and have not discharged the burden of proof,” Kunaza held.
“I uphold the election of Dapo Abiodun as the duly elected governor of Ogun State in the March 18 election.”
RELATED ARTICLES
