Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has affirmed the election of Governor Dapo Abiodun of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the March 18 Governorship election in Ogun State.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a majority judgment delivered by Justices J. S. Ikyegh and Muhammed Mustapha on Monday, the appellate court dismissed the appeal brought before it by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu.
The court found no merit in the appeal, upholding the earlier decision of the Tribunal without costs.
The Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had, on September 30, 2023, upheld Abiodun’s victory, prompting Adebutu to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
The appellate court, in its majority decision of 2 to 1, emphasized that the petitioner bears the responsibility to prove that an election was marred by corrupt practices, and in this case, the appellants failed to establish such claims.
The court dismissed the allegation of certificate forgery against Governor Abiodun, noting that the appellants did not provide sufficient evidence. It upheld the Tribunal’s assessment, emphasising that appellate courts generally refrain from interfering with such evaluations.
Regarding the issue of disenfranchisement raised by the appellant, the court pointed out that it was the appellants’ duty to prove disenfranchisement by presenting voters who were genuinely disenfranchised. However, the appellants failed to do so, calling only persons who had successfully voted.
This decision solidifies Governor Abiodun’s victory and provides legal clarity on the challenged aspects of the election petition.
