In a decisive ruling, the Supreme Court has brought closure to the legal battle surrounding the Ogun State governorship election by dismissing the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu.
The dismissal, based on the grounds of being unmeritorious, was accompanied by a scathing assessment of the evidence presented by Adebutu.
Justice Tijani Abubakar, delivering the lead judgment, firmly rejected the appeal jointly brought by the PDP and Adebutu before the apex court.
The dismissal marked a significant milestone in the legal tussle, with Justice Abubakar emphasizing the lack of merit in the petition.
The focal point of the case was the rejected plea by Adebutu and the PDP for an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh elections in 99 polling units, where they alleged cancellations had taken place.
However, the Supreme Court, through Justice Abubakar, dismissed these allegations, expressing disagreement with the claims of election cancellation in the specified polling units.
Contrary to the position presented by the petitioners, the Supreme Court upheld that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Dapo Abiodun, were rightfully declared winners of the March 18 poll by INEC.
This declaration reinforced the electoral body’s initial decision, solidifying the APC’s victory in the gubernatorial contest.
Justice Abubakar delivered a critical blow to the evidence presented by Adebutu and the PDP, asserting that the documents alleging election cancellations in 99 polling units were nothing more than “worthless papers.”
He outlined the deficiencies in the evidence, pointing out the absence of a heading, date, and the crucial lack of a signature or name of any official.
This damning evaluation echoed the findings and conclusions of both the Ogun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, which had previously dismissed the petition on grounds of merit.
The Supreme Court’s affirmation further solidifies the legal consensus that the APC and Dapo Abiodun emerged as the legitimate winners of the State governorship election.
With the dismissal now finalized, the legal chapter surrounding the State governorship election is brought to a definitive close, leaving the APC’s victory unchallenged in the highest court of the land.
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