The Supreme Court, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, has affirmed the electoral victory of Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress in the March 18, 2023, governorship election in Ogun state. Justice Tijani Abubakar delivered the lead judgment, dismissing the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Ladi Adebutu.
Justice Abubakar stated that the appeal was “unmeritorious and deserved to be dismissed, and it is hereby dismissed accordingly.” The unanimous decision upheld the judgments of the lower courts, which had earlier dismissed Adebutu’s petition as grossly incompetent.
The PDP and Adebutu had sought the nullification of Abiodun’s victory, challenging the adherence to the Electoral Act, 2022, and citing corrupt practices and issues of non-qualification. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Abiodun the winner with 276,298 votes, defeating Adebutu, who polled 262,383 votes.
The Supreme Court’s decision solidifies the Court of Appeal’s judgment on November 23, which affirmed the Tribunal’s decision upholding Abiodun’s victory. While two judges of the Court of Appeal dismissed Adebutu’s appeal for lacking merit, Justice Jane Esienanwan Inyang saw merit in the petition. She ordered INEC to withdraw the certificate of return presented to Abiodun and conduct a new election in 99 polling units where elections were disrupted.
With the Supreme Court’s affirmation, Governor Dapo Abiodun’s electoral victory remains upheld, concluding the legal challenges against his re-election in Ogun state.
