Tribunal Dismisses Adebutu’s Move to Stop Abiodun’s Prayers on Vote Buying

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The Election Petition Tribunal (EPT) sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, yesterday dismissed the application of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate seeking to strike out Governor Dapo Abiodun’s prayers establishing vote buying allegations against them.

Abiodun had made a strong allegation of electoral fraud against the PDP and Adebutu, in the March 18, 2023, governorship election in the state in his reply to the petition of Adebutu.

The tribunal unanimously admitted the portion of Abiodun’s response to the petition, which specifically indicated the degree and effects of electoral fraud allegedly committed by Adebutu and the PDP.

Adebutu and PDP had argued that their petition did not include allegations of vote buying and so the governor’s defence should not also have included such allegations.

In a ruling, which was delivered by a member of the panel Hon. Justice J.B. Egele, and supported by the Chairman of EPT, Hon. Justice H. N. Kunaza and member of the EPT, Hon. Justice Sannusi Shehu, the tribunal held that Abiodun was not restricted to the same issues that Adebutu and PDP raised in their petition.

The tribunal further held that in any event, vote buying is in the same family as corrupt practices, which is a ground on which Adebutu and PDP filed their petition. The tribunal accordingly dismissed the application.

Following this ruling, Abiodun is free to present evidence of vote buying against Adebutu and PDP.

Meanwhile, the tribunal had fixed July 5, for commencement of proper hearing of matters in the petition.