Ogun tribunal fixes Sept 4 for final hearing

On Wednesday, the tribunal hearing the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition set the deadline for parties to submit their final addresses for the case as September 4.

All charges related to the petition submitted by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Ladi Adebutu have been resolved.

Adebutu had taken Dapo Abiodun, the governor, before the three-man tribunal on the grounds that, according to his claims, Abiodun had not received a majority of the votes cast in the governorship election that took place on March 18.

Adebutu claimed in his petition that INEC violated the Electoral Act by conducting the election in a manner inconsistent with its requirements.

Adebutu finished presenting his case at the trial after he called 94 witnesses and submitted thousands of papers as proof.

When it presented its opening statement, the first defendant (INEC) did not introduce any witnesses.

The second respondent, Abiodun, began his case last week and, up until Tuesday, had called six witnesses to testify against Adebutu in defense of his victory.

The ruling APC, the third respondent, presented their case with four witnesses on Wednesday as well.

Yemi Adelani, the APC State Collation Agent, Ifede Ifetayo, the collation agent for the Ikenne LG, and Sulaiman Ayobami, the agent for the Sagamu LG, were all witnesses that testified in favor of the APC.

The APC’s Tayo Oyetibo presented the evidence, while the petitioners’ Wole Olanipekun, Abiodun’s Gordy Uche, SAN, and INEC’s Olumide Ogidan questioned and cross-examined the witnesses.

Oyetibo, wrapping up APC’s argument, stated, “Having carefully examined the evidence tendered by the petitioners and the evidence adduced by the respondents, we are satisfied that we have covered the case.”

Therefore, the panel presided over by Justice Hamidu Kunaza postponed the hearing until Monday, September 4, 2023, so that the parties could adopt their closing written addresses.