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Ogun Gov Tussle: S’Court Reserves Judgment On Adebutu’s Appeal

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The Supreme Court, on Thursday, reserved judgment on an appeal the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Ladi Adebutu, filed to challenge the outcome of the governorship election that held in Ogun State on March 18, 2023.

The appeal is seeking to remove Governor Dapo Abiodun, who contested and was re-elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from office.

A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, adjourned to deliver judgement on the electoral dispute after all the parties adopted their final briefs of argument.

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.

Dissatisfied 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.

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He, among other things, alleged that the election was not conducted in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

Aside from alleging that the election was marred by irregularities and corrupt practices, Adebutu alleged that over 40,000 voters from his strongholds were disenfranchised due to violence.

He told the tribunal that he secured the highest number of valid votes cast at the election and therefore ought to have been declared the winner by INEC.

However, Adebutu’s petition was dismissed by the Justice Hamidu Kunaza-led three-man tribunal, which affirmed Abiodun as the bonafide winner of the contest.

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