The Supreme Court of Nigeria has upheld the election victory of Dapo Abiodun as the governor of Ogun State.
The judgment, delivered on Friday by Tijjani Abubakar, who led the five-member panel, dismissed the appeal filed by Ladi Adebutu, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections.
Abubakar, in his statement, declared the appeal “unmeritorious” and asserted, “In the end, this appeal is unmeritorious and deserves to be dismissed. It is hereby dismissed.”
The electoral saga began in March 2023 when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Dapo Abiodun the winner with 276,298 votes. Ladi Adebutu of the PDP secured 262,38 votes, and Biyi Otegbeye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) trailed with 94,754 votes.
Following the declaration, the PDP and Adebutu contested the results, alleging that Abiodun did not secure the majority of valid votes and accusing INEC of non-compliance with the Electoral Act and corrupt practices.
The petitioners also claimed that over 99 polling units experienced disruptions by thugs, disenfranchising more than 40,000 voters.
Despite the legal challenges, the tribunal dismissed Adebutu’s petition in September 2023, affirming Abiodun’s victory.
In November 2023, the appeal court, in a split decision, also dismissed Adebutu’s petition, upholding Abiodun’s election.
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