Ogun Guber Poll: Adebutu files petition, hopeful of favourable outcome

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the March 18 governorship election in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu on Friday filed his petition at the election petition tribunal in Abeokuta.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the governorship election in the state with a total score of 276,298 votes to defeat Adebutu, who polled 262,383 votes.

But, Adebutu said the election did not reflect the wish of the masses, and claimed to have won the highest number of valid votes cast at the election

Adebutu in the petition prayed the court to order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh election in 99 polling units in 41 wards which cut across 16 Local government areas of the state where elections were either not held and/or cancelled due to disruption and over-voting.

The PDP candidate led a member of his legal team, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN) and party chieftains to the tribunal secretariat within Isabo court premises, Abeokuta, to formally file copies of the petition.

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While Adebutu and the PDP are the first and second petitioners, respectively, the INEC, Abiodun and the APC were joined as the first, second and third respondents in the suit.

Speaking to newsmen after filing the petition, Adebutu said, “We are here today in continuation of the pursuit of our democratic rights because we have had elections that we truly believe we have represented the people fairly, and the people have responded by voting fairly for us in an election we believe we won.

“We will continue to seek our mandate within the ambit of the law.”

Giving details of the petitions, the counsel, Uche, said it was filed on up to “four solid grounds”, hoping that the Tribunal “will do the best.”

He said: “We have about three Senior Advocates on our team and a host of many other lawyers, who are not just in it because they are being paid, but because of the fact that they believe the mandate was stolen and they also believe this mandate can be retrieved.

“We have up to four grounds, very solid ones, but it will be sweeter when our opponent tells you the grounds.

“Our prayers are just that the right thing be done and the man who won is given the mantle of office.”