Tribunal Reserves Verdict on PDP and APC Petitions On the Ogun Governorship Poll

Ogun State Governorship Poll Petitions Tribunal has postponed indefinitely, its judgement in the petition filed by the PDP against the election of Governor Dapo Abiodun in the February 25 governorship poll.

The tribunal Chairman, Justice Hamidu Kunaza announced this during the Monday proceeding of the tribunal after counsel to parties adopted their final written address on their petitions.

Justice Kunaza told the council that the tribunal would communicate to them the date for the judgement.

The governor counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun in his final written address, argued that the sole petitions of the PDP were not duly signed and stamped.

He asked the tribunal to dismiss the PDP petition for lacking in merit.

Also, Chief Chris Uche, counsel to the PDP candidate, Ladi Adebutu, in his counter-argument asked the tribunal to revoke a total of 40,871 votes from the votes credited to governor Abiodun by the INEC.

He also wants the tribunal to order a re-run of the poll in 99 polling units where the elections were purportedly disrupted by thugs.

Read Also:

Special Task Force Begins Raid on Traders Displaying Wares on Walkways in Abeokuta

Adebutu had approached the tribunal to challenge the declaration of Prince Abiodun as the winner of the governorship election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,, saying that the election was marred with corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

In their separate submissions, counsels to the 1st respondent (INEC), Mr Remi Olatubora, SAN, 2nd (Dapo Abiodun), Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, and the 3rd (APC), Mr Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, told the tribunal that the petitioners failed to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. Counsel to INEC, Olatubora, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition for being unmerited and a waste of the tribunal’s precious time.

Counsel to Prince Dapo Abiodun, Chief Olanipekun, in his final address, described Adebutu’s petition as a mere academic exercise.

However, in his counter-argument, Counsel to Adebutu, Chris Uche, SAN, told the tribunal that all documents presented by the petitioners were obtained from INEC.

The Chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Hamidu Kunaza, told the counsels that the final day of the judgment would be communicated to all the parties.