Ladi Adebutu, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, has urged the Election Petition Tribunal in Abeokuta to remove the incumbent Governor, Dapo Abiodun from office. Adebutu stated that there would be no catastrophic consequences if he were declared the winner of the March 18 election.
During the proceedings before the tribunal led by Justice Hamidu Kunaza, Chris Uche (SAN), the counsel for the PDP governorship candidate, emphasized this point while presenting the petitioners’ final written address.
The petition filed by the PDP and Adebutu alleges non-compliance with the Electoral Act and corrupt practices by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the election. They also claim that the election was marred by thuggery in over 99 polling units, resulting in the disenfranchisement of more than 40,000 voters.
In his presentation, Uche informed the tribunal that the petitioners had filed their final written addresses in response to the addresses submitted by the first, second, and third respondents on August 25, 2023.
The senior lawyer urged the tribunal to grant all the reliefs sought in the petition, including the disqualification of the second respondent, Abiodun, as a candidate in the March 18 election. He requested the tribunal to declare Adebutu as the rightful winner of the election, asserting that all votes credited to Abiodun by INEC were invalid due to multiple thumbprints and irregularities.
Uche cited exhibits and witnesses in support of their case and emphasized that they had successfully met the burden of proof. He concluded by saying, “I urge my Lords to do justice by granting the reliefs sought in this matter; the heavens will not fall.”
In response, INEC’s Counsel, Dr. Remi Olatubora (SAN), called for the dismissal of the petition, characterizing it as “unmeritorious” and a waste of the judiciary’s time. He argued that the petitioners had simply presented inadmissible evidence to the tribunal.
Abiodun’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), also urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition, asserting that the evidence presented by the petitioners was unsigned and therefore worthless.
Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, counsel for the APC, argued that the petitioners had failed to specify the polling units where non-compliance occurred and that the alleged disruption of elections by political thugs was not linked to any polling unit.
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