Ogun: The Supreme Court upholds Governor Abiodun’s electoral victory

The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday, upheld Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress’s March 18, 2023, election victory to the office of governor of Ogun State.

Justice Inyang Okoro led the 5-man panel of the Supreme Court, while the lead judgment was delivered by Justice Tijani Abubakar.

The appeal “is unmeritorious and deserved to be dismissed, and it is hereby dismissed accordingly,” according to Justice Abubakar’s ruling.

The apex court affirmed separate judgments of the lower courts which had dismissed Adebutu’s petition for being grossly incompetent.

“Parties to bear their respective costs, Justice Abubakar held.

The unanimous judgment was on the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and it’s candidate in the March 18, governorship election, Ladi Adebutu.

In his appeal, Adebutu aims to have the election results declared void and Abiodun declared the winner.

Specifically, Adebutu had challenged Abiodun’s re-election on the ground that the Electoral Act, 2022 was not adhered to, citing corrupt practices and issue of non-qualification.

INEC had declared Abiodun winner of the governorship election after polling 276,298 votes to defeat his closest rival Adebutu, who polled 262,383 votes.

Specifically, PDP and Adebutu want the Supreme Court to set aside and dismiss the judgement of the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which had on November 23, affirmed the decision of the Tribunal in upholding Adiodun’s victory.