Just In: Supreme Court Holds Decision on PDP’s Appeal Regarding Ogun Governorship Election (Details)

The Supreme Court, presided over by Justice John Inyang Okoro, has deferred its judgment in the legal dispute between Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and his opponent, Oladipupo Adebutu, from the last governorship election….CONTINUE READING

This decision came after both parties presented their arguments in court.

Governor Abiodun ran on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, while Adebutu contested under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Following the election outcome, Adebutu and the PDP sought Supreme Court intervention to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections in 99 polling units where they claimed cancellations occurred.

Chief Chris Uche SAN, the lead counsel for the appellants, argued that the electoral body acknowledged the cancellation of votes in these units.

He asserted that Governor Abiodun’s victory was declared prematurely, as a fresh election had not been conducted in the affected polling units, which could potentially impact the overall election result.

Uche emphasized that the election could not be deemed conclusive without addressing the concerns in the 99 polling units.

He urged the Supreme Court to overturn the judgments of the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal.

INEC’s counsel, Abiodun Owonikoko SAN, urged the Court to dismiss the appeal. The APC’s lead counsel, Tayo Oyetibo SAN, argued for dismissal, citing inadequacies in the presented documents related to the alleged cancellations.

Oyetibo contended that these documents lacked proper details and violated the Electoral Act’s admissibility conditions.

The Appeal Court previously affirmed Abiodun’s re-election on November 24, 2023, dismissing the PDP’s appeal, while a minority judgment directed INEC to conduct a fresh election within 90 days.

The Supreme Court’s final judgment is awaited on this matter.