In the judgment delivered on Friday, Tijjani Abubakar, who led the five-member panel, dismissed the appeal filed by Ladi Adebutu, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last elections.
“In the end, this appeal is unmeritorious and deserves to be dismissed. It is hereby dismissed,” Abubakar held.
In March 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Abiodun winner with 276,298 votes, while Ladi Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scored 262,38 and Biyi Otegbeye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came a distant third with 94,754 votes.
The PDP and Adebutu approached the tribunal, alleging that the governor did not get the majority of valid votes cast in the March 18 governorship election.
The petitioners accused INEC of non-compliance with the Electoral Act and corrupt practices during the election.
The petitioners also alleged that elections were disrupted by thugs in over 99 polling units, disenfranchising over 40,000 voters from participating in the election.
In September 2023, the tribunal dismissed the petition of Adebutu and affirmed Abiodun’s election.
In November 2023, the appeal court, in a split decision, dismissed the petition filed by Adebutu and affirmed Abiodun’s election.
In the minority decision, Jane Inyang, a judge, ruled that INEC should conduct a fresh election within 90 days.
Comments