January 19, (THEWILL) – The Supreme Court, on Friday, declared Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the duly elected governor of Ogun state, in the 2023 gubernatorial election.
A five-member panel of the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by Oladipupo Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed the election of Abiodun as governor of Ogun state.
THEWILL reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared Abiodun winner of the March 18th gubernatorial election in Ogun State after polling 276,298 votes to defeat his closest rival, Adebutu, who polled 262,383 votes.
Adebutu 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.
He had prayed the apex court to set aside the election of Dapo Abiodun as governor because INEC, had initially cancelled elections in 99 polling units and consequently ordered that fresh elections be conducted in those polling units.
THEWILL recalls that the Court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos State, affirmed the re-election of Abiodun in split decision.
Justice Joseph Shagbaor Ikyegh, who read the majority judgement, dismissed the appeal filed by Adebutu, for lacking in merit.
However, Justice Jane Esienanwan Inyang, who delivered the minority judgement, agreed with the appellant and ordered INEC to conduct a fresh election within 90 days.
The Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had equally dismissed the PDP case.
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