By Rebecca Adeniran, Abeokuta
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Ladi Adebutu, its governorship candidate in the most recent election, have been asked to accept the Saturday tribunal judgement as God’s will.
In the most recent state governorship election, which was held on March 18, Dapo Abiodun and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were challenged by the PDP and Ladi Adebutu, who among other things accused them of vote buying.
The challenge from the PDP was dismissed by the three-person tribunal, which was presided over by Justice Hamidu Kunaza, on the grounds that it “lacked merit in its entirety” and upheld Dapo Abiodun’s election result as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Adebutu, however, later disapproved of the electoral petitions tribunal’s verdict of last Saturday, calling it a threat to Nigeria’s democracy and a shortcoming, and pledged to challenge it.
On Tuesday, the IPAC, however, asked Adebutu to forego the effort to go to the appeal court and instead support Abiodun to advance the state.
Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, the state capital, IPAC Chairman in the state, Samson Okusanya described the PDP’s arguments at the tribunal as empty and blind.
“Adebutu and his team of Lawyers ought to have known that law and facts are not based on technicalities but rather on fairness and objectivity of the legal process which stipulates that the petitioner ought to have front- loaded certain information in the petition.
“The Tribunal’s verdict on the Ladi Adebutu petition clearly revealed that the petition contained so many procedural flaws with antecedents interpretation of words. The subsequent dismissal of the substantive suits is therefore right in the eyes of the Law,” he said.
Okusanya alleged that Adebutu is being hunted by the vote buying allegations which according to him has been investigated by different relevant agencies.
“The PDP and her candidate, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, should by now realisze that Ogun State is not a commodity for purchase. We implore him to discontinue his sojourn abroad as a fugitive, and immediately return to Ogun State in Nigeria to join hands to build our dear state. He should as a matter of importance, discontinue his planned wild goose chase at the appellate Court and accept the will of God,” He added .
IPAC however, congratulated Prince Dapo Abiodun, for the victory of Saturday, and urge him to continue to demonstrate good leadership in Ogun State and remain focused in transforming the State.
