Breaking: Tribunal upholds victory of Gov. Abiodun
Quick Read
In a unanimous judgement, the tribunal said “the petition of PDP and its candidate Adebutu lacks merit and it is hereby dismissed.”
By Adejoke Adeleye
The Ogun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state’s March 18 governorship poll.
The three-man tribunal panel led by Justice Hamidu Kunaza struck out the petition filed by Ladi Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for being incompetent.
In a judgement read for over 11 hours, the tribunal upheld Abiodun’s election, while dismissing Adebutu’s petition.
In a unanimous judgement, the tribunal said Abiodun’s petitions “lacks merit and it is hereby dismissed.”
According to Justice Kunaza, the allegations of corrupt practices, non-compliance with the electoral Act, multiple thumb printing of ballot papers, ballot stuffing, and forgery alleged as malpractices that marred Abiodun’s victory by Adebutu and his party were not proved beyond any reasonable doubt.
The tribunal also struck out allegation of vote-buying against the APC and its candidate.
The tribunal also declared that Abiodun was qualified to stand as the candidate of his party while it affirmed the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring the APC candidate as the winner of the election.
Comments