The Supreme Court upheld Dapo Abiodun’s election as governor of Ogun State.
Tijjani Abubakar, who led the five-member panel, dismissed the appeal filed by Ladi Adebutu, the Peoples Democratic Party‘s (PDP) governorship candidate in the previous elections, in a decision issued Friday.
“In the end, this appeal is without merit and should be dismissed. “It is hereby dismissed,” Abubakar stated.
In March 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Abiodun the winner with 276,298 votes. He was followed by Ladi Adebutu of the PDP with 262,38 votes and Biyi Otegbeye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in third place with 94,754.
The PDP and Adebutu approached the tribunal, claiming that the governor did not receive a majority of valid votes cast in the March 18 governorship election.
The petitioners accused INEC of violating the Electoral Act and engaging in corrupt practices during the election.
The petitioners also claimed that thugs disrupted elections in more than 99 polling stations, preventing over 40,000 voters from voting.
The tribunal dismissed Adebutu’s petition and upheld Abiodun’s election in September 2023.
In a split decision in November 2023, the appeals court dismissed Adebutu’s petition while affirming Abiodun’s election.
In the minority decision, a judge, Jane Inyang, ruled that INEC must hold a new election within 90 days.