THE governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, on Saturday, described the Court of Appeal split judgement on the state governorship election delivered yesterday in Lagos as a judgment that has boosted his hope of reclaiming his “stolen mandate.”
Adebutu disclosed this in a statement signed by the Media Director of Ladi Adebutu Campaign Organisation, Afolabi.
While the duo of Justices J.S. Ikyegh and Muhammed Mustapha at the appellate court upheld the decision of the election petition tribunal, which earlier affirmed Abiodun’s election, Justice Jane Inyang, however, ordered a rerun in 92 polling units and faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission for declaring Abiodun the winner of the governorship election.
Adebutu said that having “received the Appeal Court judgment on the Ogun State governorship election on Friday in Lagos, we could gladly see that true justice is on the way and the hope of reclaiming the mandate of the good people of Ogun State is drawing nearer.”
He added, “The appeal judgment that can be described as the pathway to victory resolved unanimously, five out the eight issues in our favour, only one issue in favour of the respondents ( Dapo Abiodun and APC) while the other two issues were resolved in ratio two to one.”
Adebutu said that he was particularly happy that the appellate court treated the case on its merit, unlike the Election Petition Tribunal, which dismissed his solid case against Abiodun and his ruling party, APC on mere technicalities.
