Ogun guber poll: Adebutu storms tribunal, files petition

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 governorship election in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, has stormed the election petition tribunal sitting in Abeokuta to file his petition.

Recall that 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 Ogun.

Abiodun scored a total 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, saying he did not lose the election.

To seek redress, 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.

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.”