•Adebutu and Abiodun
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State and his cabinet members have resorted to prayers ahead of the final judgement of the Supreme Court in the state governorship election battle.
Abiodun, his deputy, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, his aides, and other members of the APC were seen in a video, in a spiritual mode, praying for God’s intervention ahead of the judgement.
The deputy chief of staff to the governor, Toyin Taiwo, who led the prayer session, prayed for victory for Abiodun and the party at the Supreme Court, reports Vanguard.
He prayed to God not to put the governor and the party to shame ahead of the judgement.
Recall that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Ladi Adebutu, had dragged Abiodun before the Tribunal, alleging that the governor did not win the majority of votes cast during the March 18 governorship election.
Adebutu is challenging the declaration of Abiodun as the winner of the March 18 election in the state.
PDP and Adebutu in the petition marked, EPT/OG/GOV/03/2023 had dragged Abiodun and APC to the Tribunal, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of non-compliance to 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, Adebutu’s petition was dismissed by Justice Hamidu Kunaza-led tribunal for lacking merit.
At the Court of Appeal, Adebutu also lost in a two-to-one split judgement.
Not satisfied, Adebutu headed to the Supreme Court to seek justice, describing the Court of Appeal judgement as “only temporary.”
Earlier, the Supreme Court yesterday reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Adebutu and the PDP against the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which upheld the election of Abiodun.
The five-member panel, led by Justice John Okoro reserved judgment at a later date to be announced to parties involved in the matter.
The panel had earlier declined to hear the cross-appeals filed by the APC and INEC, insisting that it abides from the outcome of the main appeal filed by Adebutu.
