Appeal Court Restores Adebutu, PDP’s Vote Buying Allegations Against Gov Abiodun
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In a surprising turn of events, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has ruled in favor of restoring the vote buying allegations made by the Ogun State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)candidate at the 2023 gubernatorial election, Oladipupo Adebutu against Ogun governor, Dapo Abiodun and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The allegations, which were initially dismissed by the Ogun tribunal due to their late introduction, have now regained traction, sending shockwaves through the political landscape.
The Appeal Court’s decision to revisit the dismissed vote buying allegations has sparked renewed interest in the case, reigniting debates surrounding electoral integrity and accountability. The case centers around claims made by Oladipupo Adebutu and the PDP that Dapo Abiodun and the APC engaged in vote buying on the election day. These allegations were initially presented after the stipulated deadline set by the tribunal, leading to their dismissal.
The court’s decision to reexamine the allegations suggests a willingness to prioritize the substance of the claims over procedural formalities, which has further ignited discussions on the effectiveness of Nigeria’s electoral justice system.
The Appeal No. CA/IB/EPT/ GOV/OG/03/2023 filed by Oladipupo Adebutu and PDP on the 6th of July 2023 was heard on 3rd August 2023 in Abuja and judgement delivered on Wednesday, 16th August, 2023.
Observers are closely watching how both the PDP and APC will respond to the Appeal Court’s decision. Asiwaju Akinloye Bankole, Ogun Publicity Secretary of the PDP, expressed his satisfaction with the court’s ruling, stating that Dapo Abiodun has polluted the electoral system in the state and hopefully, justice would be served.
As the legal battle continues on September 4, all eyes are on the Ogun tribunal to see how this case unfolds, potentially setting a precedent for future cases involving allegations of vote buying and other electoral irregularities.
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