The Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal on Saturday affirmed Gov. Dapo Abiodun’s election.
The three-man tribunal headed by Justice Hamidu Kunaza
held that Abiodun was duly elected in the March 18 gubernatorial election.
It delivered judgment in a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Candidate for Ogun State, Mr Ladi Adebutu against the election of Abiodun.
The tribunal, in an over 11-hour judgment, declared Abiodun as the winner of the governorship election.
Earlier, the tribunal held that evidence before it showed that the petition lacked merit.
The judges held that the petitioners failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt, the allegations of non-compliance, overvoting, disenfranchisement of voters and corrupt practices during the polls.
Reading the judgement, Kunaza held that the petitioners failed to prove the fact of their case, saying “On the whole the petitioners have not successfully prove the allegation of non compliance with the electoral act and have not discharge the burden of prove”.
On disenfranchisement, the Tribunal held that there was no direct evidence to prove that voters were disenfranchised.
On the ground calling for the disqualification of Abiodun due to criminal records, the court declared that the petitioners failed to show that the second respondent (Abiodun) have been tried, arraigned and convicted in the US.
In his final judgement, Kunaza said, “I uphold the election of Dapo Abiodun as the dully elected governor of Ogun State in the March 18 election.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Abiodun the winner of the governorship election.
Abiodun polled 276,298 votes to beat Adebutu who scored 262,382 votes.
