Adebutu Loses As Supreme Court Affirms Abiodun As Ogun Governor

Mr Adebutu’s “unmeritorious” was dismissed for lack of substantial evidence.

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the duly elected governor of Ogun, ending months-long legal contention between him and Ladi Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Five justices led by Inyang Okoro, on Friday, ruled that Mr Adebutu and his party did not provide sufficient evidence to buttress their argument that Mr Abiodun indeed violated the provisions of the Electoral Act in the conduct of the governorship polls that pronounced him the winner.

“This appeal is unmeritorious and ought to be dismissed, and it is hereby dismissed,” stated Tijjani Abubakar in the ruling. “The judgment of the court is hereby affirmed.”

Mr Abiodun had scored 276,298 votes, trailed closely by Mr Adebutu, who had 262,383 votes. But the latter argued many of his supporters were disenfranchised because of the violence unleashed by the governor’s supporters.

According to the PDP candidate, about 40,000 people from his strongholds could not cast their ballots in the March 18 poll due to the electoral violence, a figure that could have significantly altered the outcome of the election.

However, the Supreme Court dismissed his claims, ruling he did not provide substantial evidence to support them.