PDP’s Adebutu to appeal judgement, says Ogun tribunal focused on ‘funny technicalities’

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun says Ladi Adebutu, its candidate in the governorship election in the state, will appeal the judgement of the tribunal that struck out his petition. 

On September 30, the three-member Ogun tribunal upheld the election of Dapo Abiodun as the governor of the state.

The tribunal said Adebutu’s petition was “incompetent, defective and lacking in merits”.

However, speaking  at a press conference on Tuesday, Sikirulai Ogundele, chairman of PDP in Ogun, said the party has “decided to take the matter to the appellate court”.

He said the petition was not frivolous but grounded in credible testimonies and substantial documentation.

Ogundele said the people of the state deserved an impartial and thorough examination of the party’s claims to ensure that the electoral process remains untainted.

“We believe a more thorough and impartial assessment of the evidence and allegations will take place at the appellate court level,” he said.

“Our petition as regards the March 18 governorship election contains detailed and compelling evidence of over-voting, voters’ disenfranchisement, harassment of voters and ballot box-snatching.

“We therefore extend our gratitude to our supporters, who have shown resilience and unwavering faith in our cause.

“We call on all well-meaning citizens and stakeholders in Ogun to join us in our quest for justice and in upholding the principles of democracy.

“Together, we will continue the fight for a brighter future for our beloved state.

“The PDP assures the people of Ogun that the good governance they truly deserve will be realised in no distance time.”

Also reacting to the judgement, Afolabi Orekoya, Adebutu’s spokesperson, said the ruling was “based solely on funny technicalities [and] failed to consider the substantial merits and evidence tendered during the trial”.

“We firmly believe in the principles of democracy, transparency and the rule of law,” Orekoya said.

“It is with these principles in mind that we entered into the legal process to seek justice for the people of Ogun State whose mandate was stolen.

“We submitted substantial evidence that raised serious questions about the conduct of the election, even marked ballot papers and we are confident that a closer examination of this evidence would have revealed the true nature of the irregularities and discrepancies that occurred during the election.

“In the course of the trial, our legal team presented enough evidence that establishing non-compliance, voters’ harassment and intimidation leading to the disenfranchisement of over 49,000 voters which is higher than the margin of lead of 13,915 as ‘purportedly’ declared by INEC; the ballot boxes snatching, over voting among many other electoral malpractices perpetuated by Mr Dapo Abiodun and his party, APC.”