There were massive statewide jubilations as the Ogun State election Petition Tribunal led by Justice Yusuf Halilu affirmed the victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun in the March 9, gubernatorial election in the state.
The tribunal had on Saturday struck out the petition of Adekunle Akinlade, governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in the state, challenging the victory of Governor Abiodun, candidate of the All Progressives Congress candidate (APC).
In affirming Abiodun’s victory, the tribunal declared that the petitioner, Hon. Akinlade of the APM, the preferred candidate of the immediate past Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, “did not only failed but also irredeemably failed to prove” his case against Abiodun of the APC.
The tribunal, in a unanimous judgement, declared that the petition lacked merit.
In his petition, Akinlade who enjoyed total backing of former governor Amosun in the build-up to the election asked the tribunal to nullify the victory of Abiodun over allegation of over-voting in favour of the governor.
He also alleged that Abiodun lacked the qualification to contest the governorship election and prayed the tribunal to declare him the winner of the March 16 election.
But Justice Yusuf Halilu, presiding judge and the chairman of the tribunal, described the petition as “lazy, deficient and shallow”.
The judge, in his ruling on the preliminary objections, struck out Akinlade’s application seeking disqualification of Abiodun on the grounds of submitting false academic qualification.
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He said the issue of information about academic qualification in Abiodun’s sworn affidavit had been concluded at the appeal court.
The Tribunal chairman held that Akinlade’s petition” is destined to fail, it failed and is hereby dismissed.”
He added that Abiodun was duly elected by virtue of scoring the highest number of valid votes cast by the voters and declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying the Tribunal concur with it and has no reason whatsoever to tinker with the outcome of the March 9 governorship election in Ogun State.
