Ogun tribunal fixes date to hear Adebutu’s petition

The Ogun State Election Petition Tribunal has fixed the date for the commencement of hearing of a petition filed by the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ladi Adebutu.

Adebutu is challenging the election of Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing alleged over-voting, gross misconduct and non-compliance with the electoral act.

At the conclusion of the pre-hearing sections on Thursday, the tribunal announced July 4 as the day to tender all documents and papers that were not objected to by either the petitioners or the respondents

Also, the election court said the hearing proper and the calling of witnesses would start on July 5, 2023.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Hamidu Kunaza, said: “Documents that are unopposed will be tendered and admitted from the bar on July 4, while the trial and calling of witnesses commence on July 5.”

Earlier, the tribunal had dismissed an application by Adebutu challenging a claim by Abiodun that he engaged in vote buying during the election.

Abiodun had in his responses to Adebutu’s petition accused him of vote buying during the March 18 election.

Adebutu, in his application, asked the tribunal to strike out the paragraphs containing the claims that he bought votes during the election

But, the tribunal said Abiodun, being a respondent, has enough space to respond the way he deemed fit.

With the settlement of all pre-hearing matters, the tribunal would on July 4 commence hearing of the petition proper.