22nd June, 2023
By Adejoke Adeleye/Ogun
The Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal has fixed July 5, 2023 for the commencement of hearing of the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oladipupo Adebutu against declaration of Dapo Abiodun of All Progressives Congress, APC in the 18 March governorship election.
Adebutu is challenging result of the March 18th 2023 governorship election which returned Abiodun for the second term, citing alleged over voting, gross misconducts and non-compliance with the electoral act.
At the conclusion of the prehearing sections on Thursday, the tribunal announced July 4 as the day to tender all documents and papers that were not objected to by either the petitioners or the respondents.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Hamidu Kunaza, said “documents that are unopposed will be tendered and admitted from the bar on July 4, while the trial and calling of witnesses commence on July 5.”
Meanwhile on the 19th of June, the tribunal had dismissed an application by Adebutu challenging a claim by Abiodun that he engaged in vote buying during the election.
Abiodun had in his responses to Adebutu’s petition accused him of vote buying during the March 18 election.
Adebutu, in his application asked the tribunal to strike out the paragraphs containing the claims that he bought votes during the election
But, the tribunal said Abiodun, being a respondent, has enough space to respond the way he deemed fit.
With the settlement of all pre-hearing matters, the tribunal would on July 4 commence hearing of the petition proper.