After over 11 hours of pouring through the governorship election matters between Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress(APC), the three – man election petition panel on Saturday upheld the election victory of Abiodun in the March 18, 2023 governorship election in Ogun State.
The tribunal headed by Hamidu Kunaza affirmed Abiodun’s election by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), submitting that the petitioners had failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.
In a unanimous decision by the panel, the court dismissed Adebutu’s decision for “lack of merit” and affirmed the second respondent (Dapo Abiodun) as duly elected Governor as declared by INEC.
Justice Kunaza held the allegations of corrupt practices, non-compliance with the electoral Act, multiple thumb printing of ballot papers, ballot stuffing, and forgery by Adebutu and his party were not proved beyond any reasonable doubt.
He also described the testimonies of the witnesses brought by the petitioners as “industrially manufactured, mechanically produced and adopted” by them, thereby “proven to similar, too coincidental and unbelievable.”
In the court to witness the tribunal verdict proceeding on the side of Governor Dapo Abiodun and All Progressives Congress(APC) include: Ogun Deputy Governor, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Senator Solomon Adeola; his counterpart for Ogun Central, Senator Salisu Shuaib, Senator Gbenga Kaka, Minister of State for Environment and Ecological Management, Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako; former Speaker of Ogun State Assembly, Hon. Titi Oseni – Gomez, House of Reps member, Hon. Tunji Akinosi, Hon. Motunrayo Adeleye – Oladapo and ex – Woman Affairs Commissioner, Mrs Funmilayo Efuwape.
Also in court on the side of the petitioners are Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu’s running mate Hon. Adekunle Akinlade and Ogun PDP chairman Sikirulai Ogundele among others.
