Don’t Rejoice Yet; Appeal Court Ruling Shows Your Exit Is Near – Ladi Adebutu Tells Ogun Governor, Abiodun

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, has described the Court of Appeal split judgement on the state governorship election delivered in Lagos on Friday as boosting his hope of reclaiming his “stolen mandate.”

Adebutu in a statement on Saturday signed by the Ladi Adebutu Campaign Organisation, said the appeal judgment could best be described as the pathway to victory

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 (INEC) 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.

The statement partly reads, “We are indeed glad and hopeful that the judiciary at higher level is gradually considering the merits of the petition, unlike the lower court that chose to address technicalities in place of merit. Obviously, that human decision has no place in our rule of law and cannot stand. It is however heartwarming that the appeal court resolved all the issues.

“We specially want to salute the courage and boldness of Justice Jane Inyang who delivered the minority judgment that was well-detailed and true to the provisions of the rule of law.

“The judgment sacked the incumbent governor, recalled his certificate of return and ordered INEC to organise a rerun within 90 days in the affected 92 polling units where election was cancelled due to violence and election malpractices.

“This reputable judge also said that INEC should not have made a declaration on the March 18 governorship election, a fact that is enshrined in the Electoral Act considering the margin of lead rule.

“We make bold to say that if our courts can emulate the uprightness of Justice Jane Inyang, there will be a great hope for a greater Nigeria and democracy.

“It should be crystal clear to the placeholders in the government of Ogun State that they need not to rejoice over nothing as what they enjoy now is temporal and cannot last because the truth will still prevail.”