The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Thursday, dismissed the application of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Ladi Adebutu, seeking to strike out Governor Dapo Abiodun’s prayers establishing vote buying allegations against them.
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Abiodun had, in a reply to the petition of Adebutu, made a strong allegation of electoral fraud against the PDP and Adebutu in the March 18, 2023 governorship election in the state.
The tribunal unanimously admitted the portion of Abiodun’s response to the petition, which specifically indicates 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 have included such allegations.
In a ruling, which was delivered by a member of the panel, Justice J. B. Egele, and supported by the Chairman, Justice H N Kunaza and the other member, 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, and accordingly dismissed the application.
Following this ruling, Abiodun is free to present evidence of vote nobuying by Adebutu and PDP.
Meanwhile, the tribunal has fixed July 5 for the commencement of proper hearing of matters in the petition.
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