Your appeal lacking in merit, ambitious – Abiodun, INEC, APC tell Adebutu, PDP

<p>Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have described the appeal filed against the ruling of the Ogun State Governorship Election Tribunal by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the 2023 gubernatorial election, Ladi Adebutu, as lacking in merit and ambitious.</p>, <p>This is just as the Court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos on Tuesday reserved ruling in the appeal filed by Adebutu against the re-election of Governor Abiodun after listening to the argument of the parties.</p>, <p>Adebutu is challenging the 30th September ruling of the election tribunal which upheld Governor Abiodun’s victory at the 18 March governorship election in the state.</p>, <p>At the hearing of the appeal on Tuesday, the Court of Appeal reserved judgement after the adoption of all processes by all the parties. The court said the date for judgement would be communicated to the parties and three days notice would be given.</p>, <p>Earlier, counsel to the appellant, Chris Uche, SAN, urged the court to grant his clients’ appeal and set aside the decision of the tribunal. According to him, the tribunal erred when it failed to consider the case on its merit before proceeding to dismiss the petition before it.</p>, <p>In response, A.J Owonikoko SAN, urged the Court to dismiss the appeal for lacking merit. On the issue of 49,000 disenfranchised voters which appellant raised, he pointed out that appellants only called 48 witnesses instead of all the alleged disenfranchised voters whose disenfranchisement was to be proven.</p>, <p>He added that the Court cannot amplify 48 witness to 49,000 witnesses, as Appellants want</p>, <p>Similarly, appearing for the 2nd Respondent, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, also urged the Court to throw out the appeal while identifying and adopting his brief.</p>, <p>He stated that contrary to the position set out by Chief Uche SAN, the decision in Atiku’s case completely encapsulates the issues in this appeal