Ogun tribunal: INEC closes case, says no witness against Adebutu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has closed its defence before the Ogun state election petition tribunal.

At the tribunal session on  Wednesday, Olumide Ogidan, INEC counsel, said the commission will not be calling any witness in the petition filed by Ladi Adebutu, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“On behalf of the first respondent, we have examined the petition as well as the evidence led so far,” he said.

“My lords, on this note, we will not be calling any witness, but we will rather rest our case on that of the petitioners.”

Goddy Uche, representing the petitioners, Taiwo Osipitan, who appeared for Abiodun, and Tayo Oyetibo, for the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not oppose INEC’s application to close its case without calling any witnesses.

Dapo Abiodun, candidate of the APC, was declared winner of the Ogun state governorship election by Kayode Adebowale, INEC returning officer for the state.

Abiodun secured 276,298 votes, while Adebutu came second with 262,383 votes and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) came a distant third with 94,754 votes.

Not satisfied with the outcome, Adebutu and the PDP lodged a petition marked EPT/OG/GOV/03/2023, challenging Abiodun’s victory over allegations of non-compliance with the electoral act.

Adebutu alleged that voting was disrupted by thugs in more than 99 polling units, thereby disenfranchising over 40,000 voters from participating in the March 18 election.

The petitioners closed their case on Thursday after calling 94 witnesses and tendering over 200,000 documents in evidence.

The tribunal has adjourned further hearing in the petition to Friday for the governor to open his defence.