Final addresses are set for Sept. 4 by the Ogun tribunal

The Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal set September 4 as the deadline for parties to adopt their closing addresses on Wednesday.

This came after all parties concerned in the petition submitted by Ladi Adebutu, a candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), closed their respective cases.

Asserting that the governor did not receive the majority of the votes cast in the March 18 governorship election, Adebutu has brought Dapo Abiodun before the three-person panel.

Adebutu claimed in his appeal that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had violated the Electoral Act’s rules.

After summoning 94 witnesses and providing the tribunal with thousands of documents as proof, Adebutu concluded his case.

When the first respondent, INEC, presented its case, no witnesses were called.

Abiodun, the second respondent, launched his defence of his victory last week and called six witnesses against Adebutu up until Tuesday, when he ended his case.

On Wednesday, the third respondent and the governing APC opened and closed their cases respectively after calling four witnesses.

Yemi Adelani, the APC’s State Collation Agent, Ifede Ifetayo, the Ikenne LG Collation Agent, and Sulaiman Ayobami, the Sagamu LG Agent are three witnesses who gave testimony in favour of the APC.

The witnesses were introduced by Tayo Oyetibo, the APC’s legal representative, and cross-examined by Wole Olanipekun, speaking on behalf of Abiodun, Gordy Uche, SAN, representing the petitioners, and Olumide Ogidan, speaking on behalf of INEC.

Oyetibo concluded APC’s argument by stating, “Having carefully examined the evidence tendered by the petitioners and the evidence adduced by the respondents, we are satisfied that we have covered the case.”

The Justice Hamidu Kunaza-led panel decided to postpone the proceedings until Monday, September 4, 2023, so that the parties could adopt their last written addresses.