The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos State on Friday finally stopped the frantic efforts of Governorship Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State at the March 18, 2023 Governorship election, Hon Ladi Adebutu to unseat Governor Dapo Abiodun.
Penpushing reports that the appellate court in majority judgement delivered by the duo of Justices J.S. Ikyegh and Muhammed Mustapha, dismissed the appeal brought before it by Adebutu and his party., which was described as castrated petition and subsequently affirmed authenticity of Abiodun’s victory at the poll
The court held that the appeal lacked merit as it found no substance in it and subsequently dismissed it, affirming the earlier decision of the election petition tribunal without costs, while it is recalled that the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta had on September 30, 2023, upheld Abiodun’s declaration as the winner of the March 18, Governorship election.
Penpushing further reports that Adebutu, dissatisfied, had filed an appeal at the appellate court, challenging the judgment of the election petition tribunal, while his appeal was thrown out by the court in a majority decision of 2 to 1.
The court held that appellants did not prove the allegation of certificate forgery against Governor Abiodun and noted that the tribunal did not believe the evidence of certain witnesses because of their demeanours and because of the chorused nature of their testimony.
Penpushing also reports that maintaining that appellate courts generally do not interfere with such assessments, it held that the assessment of the tribunal is undisturbed, and while upholding the expunging of the evidence of the forensic experts, the court held that there is a huge crater in the petition of the appellants, making same castrated, sterile, and with no legs to stand on.
The court followed the principle that when a decision is ultimately correct, it is immaterial that some reasons may have been applied since the appellate courts concern themselves with the conclusions mainly.
Penpushing reports that the court on the issue of disenfranchisement raised by the appellant,held that it was the duty of appellants to prove disenfranchisement by calling voters who could vote but were disenfranchised, adding that in this petition rather, the appellants did not call any disenfranchised voter.
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