The candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party in the governor’s race in Ogun State,Oladipupo Adebutu, filed a plea with the Election Petitions Tribunal exactly 20 days after the election, asking for a ruling naming him the victor.
The All Progressives Congress’ Governor Dapo Abiodun won the election, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, after receiving 276,298 votes to Adebutu’s 262,383 votes.
Adebutu stormed the tribunal secretariat at the Isabo Magistrate court premises in Abeokuta with a member of his legal team, Gordy Uche, SAN, and party leaders, filing several copies of the petition.
In the petition, Adebutu and the PDP are the first and second petitioners, while INEC, Abiodun and the APC are the first, second and third respondents respectively.
Speaking with newsmen, Adebutu said, “We are here today in continuation of the pursuit of our democratic rights because we have had elections that we truly believe we have represented the people fairly and the people have responded by voting fairly for us in an election we believe we won.
“We will continue to seek out mandate within the ambit of the law.”
Giving details of the petitions, Uche said it was filed on “four solid grounds”, hoping that the tribunal “will do the best.”
He said, “We have about three senior advocates on our team and a host of many other lawyers and many of them are lawyers who are not just because they are being paid, but because of the fact that they believe that the mandate was stolen and they also believe this mandate can be retrieved.
“We have up to four grounds, very solid ones, but it will be sweeter when our opponent tells you the grounds.
“Our prayers are just that the right thing is done and the man who won is given the mantle of the office.”
Some of the prayers by Adebutu include a declaration that the petitioner “won the highest number of valid votes cast at the election and satisfied the requirements of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ought to be returned and is returned as the winner of the Governorship election held in Ogun state on 18th March 2023.”
“And in the alternative, the petitioner prayed for an order of the Tribunal “directing 1st Respondent to conduct fresh election in the 99 polling units which cut across 41 wards and 16 Local Government Areas of Ogun State where elections were either not held and/or cancelled due to disruption and over-voting.
Some of the prayers read “(a). That it may be determined and declared that the 2nd Respondent was not qualified to contest the Governorship Election in Ogun State held on the 18th March 2023.
“(b). An order of this Honourable Tribunal disqualifies the 2nd Respondent as a candidate in the election held in Ogun State on 18th March 2023.
“(c). That it may be determined that all the votes recorded for the 2nd and 3rd Respondents in the Ogun State Governorship election held on 18th March 2023 are wasted and invalid votes.
“(d). That it may be determined and declared that the 2nd Respondent was not duly elected or returned by a majority of lawful votes cast at the Governorship Election held in Ogun State on 18th March 2023.
“(e).That it may be determined and declared that the 1st Petitioner won the highest number of valid votes cast at the election and satisfied the requirements of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and ought to be returned and is returned as the winner of the Governorship election held in Ogun state on 18th March 2023.
“(f). An order of this Honourable Tribunal setting aside the Certificate of Return dated 20th day of March 2023 wrongly issued to the 2nd Respondent by the 1st Respondent.
“(g). An order directing the 1st Respondent to immediately Issue a Certificate of Return to the 1st petitioner as the duly elected Governor of Ogun State.
“In the alternative : (h). an order of this Honourable Tribunal directing 1st Respondent to conduct fresh election in the 99 polling units which cut across 41 wards and 16 Local Government Areas of Ogun State where elections were either not held and/or cancelled due to disruption and over-voting.
“(i). An order of this Honourable Tribunal directing the 1st Respondent to conduct a fresh election for the office of Governor of Ogun State to the exclusion of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents.
“(J). Any further appropriate consequential relief(s) that this Honourable Tribunal may deem fit and expedient to make in this Petition.”