January 11, (THEWILL) – The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Oladipupo Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the judgment of the Court of Appeal that affirmed the election of Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as governor of Ogun state
A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, adjourned for judgment after the parties argued and adopted their processes on Thursday.
THEWILL reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Abiodun the 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 urged 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.
Recall that the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos State had affirmed the re-election of Abiodun in a split decision.
Justice Joseph Shagbaor Ikyegh, who read the majority judgment, dismissed the appeal filed by Adebutu for lacking in merit.
However, Justice Jane Esienanwan Inyang, who delivered the minority judgment, 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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