Abdulkabir Akinlade, the Deputy Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 23, 2023, governorship election in Ogun State, has announced plans to appeal the judgment of the Election Petitions Tribunal. The tribunal, which was sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, the state capital, recently struck out the petition filed against the state governor, Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Adebutu, the PDP candidate, had filed a petition to challenge the victory of Abiodun and the legitimacy of the gubernatorial election held in the state on March 23, 2023.
Akinlade’s media aide, Azeez Adelani, released a statement on Sunday, expressing their determination to appeal the tribunal’s decision. In the statement, Akinlade emphasized that the tribunal’s judgment was a temporary setback, and they were confident of bouncing back.
Akinlade stated, “The PDP Deputy Governorship candidate in the 2023 Ogun State Gubernatorial Election, Hon. Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade while reacting to the state election petition tribunal judgment delivered in favor of Gov. Dapo Abiodun on the 30th of September 2023, said that, ‘as a people and party, we must take solace in three facts: first, that the Tribunal is the court of first instance, secondly, that we are blessed with a resolute leader and lastly, that time, which is the determinant of all things, is on our side.'”
He further highlighted their determination, stating that they had faced challenges before and overcame them. Akinlade conveyed their commitment to seeking justice for the people of Ogun State.
The Election Petitions Tribunal had upheld Dapo Abiodun’s victory as declared by INEC, citing that the petitioners, including Ladipupo Adebutu and the PDP, had failed to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt. The tribunal dismissed the petition, affirming Abiodun’s win in the March 18 governorship election.
