Ogun election: PDP, Adebutu ask Tribunal to sack Gov. Abiodun

By Joy Akinsanya

The candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, Ladi Adebutu, has said he ought to have been declared the winner of the 18 March governorship election in Ogun.

Adebutu made claim in the petition he filed alongside his party at Ogun election petition tribunal.

They listed INEC, APC and Gov. Abiodun as the first, second and third respondents, respectively in the petition.

Abiodun was declared the winner of the election, having polled 276,298 votes against Adebutu’s 262,383 votes.

Petitioners’ lead counsel, Mr Goddy Uche (SAN) told journalists that the petition stood on four pillars that would knock out the result announced by INEC.

“We have about three senior advocates in our team and a host of other lawyers.

“We have up to four grounds, very solid ones. Our prayers are just that the right thing is done and the man who won is given the mantle of office,’’ he said.

“We want the tribunal to declare that Adebutu won the highest number of valid votes cast at the election and satisfied the requirements of the Constitution.

“We want the tribunal to declare that Adebutu ought to have been returned and is returned as the winner of the governorship election,’’ Uche said.

Also addressing newsmen, Adebutu said: “we are here today in continuation of our pursuit of our democratic rights because we have had an election that we truly believe we have represented the people fairly.

“The people have responded by voting fairly for us in an election we believe we won and we will continue to seek our mandate within the ambit of the law.’’

Adebutu is also asking the tribunal to order INEC to conduct fresh election in 99 polling units in 41 wards and 16 of the 20 local government areas of the state.

Adebutu, in the petition he filed alongside PDP alleged that elections were either not held and or cancelled in the polling units listed because of disruption of the exercise and over-voting.

He also asked the tribunal to exclude the incumbent governor Dapo Abiodun who was declared the winner of the March 19 election and his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC from the fresh election.

NAN