- Ogun governor, Dapo Abiodun, begs Sir Kesington Adebutu
All may not be looking good for the re-elected governor of Ogun State at the moment as the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, is dangerously rocking the boat of the governor’s legitimacy at the election tribunal.
Recall that already the PDP gubernatorial candidate, Ladi Adebutu, rejected the outcome of the March 18 election that returned Dapo Abiodun as the elected governor for the second time.
The PDP and Olufemi Oguntoyinbo’s New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), had sued the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), APC and Abiodun in separate petitions.
“Was it not shocking to you how a sitting governor would win a re-election by just 13,915 votes to beat the first runner-up, Adebutu?” a source asked.
It is worthy to note that at Ikenne LG, where both the governor and Adebutu cast their votes, the PDP scored 12,472 votes while 9,125 was recorded for the governor’s party, APC. 68,613 voters were registered, only 23,564 voters were accredited and 22,461 votes cast.
Adebutu, in a statement to the media, said that injustice was perpetrated during the election and declaring Abiodun was illegal.
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“Lots of injustice was perpetrated. I feel very aggrieved because we saw lots of inconsistencies. We are law abiding; before they (INEC) made that declaration, we informed them, we petitioned them to show that that declaration was wrongful. We recognised that everything that happened in this election, we must contest it, because it was a subversion of our democracy. If we fail to contest it, we are killing this nation.
“No fewer than 42,000 people were disenfranchised and they now said they were leading by 13,000 votes. So what about those who were disenfranchised?” he queried.
New facts emerging from the ongoing tribunal have, however, revealed instances of irregularities during the election, which included over-voting, ballot snatching and votes suppression.
While Abiodun polled a total of 276,298 votes and Adebutu scored 262,383, the two main contenders in the election would be forfeiting some votes, where issues of over-voting have been established.
“As it stands, Abiodun would be having a total of 63,015 votes deducted from his overall scores, while Adebutu would suffer little above 35,000 votes in 99 polling units across 10 local governments where infractions occurred during the last election,” a source confidentially revealed to Freelanews.
Faced with that reality, it has been alleged that Abiodun has been jumping from pillar to post to appeal to the business mogul, philanthropist and father of his the PDP candidate, Sir Kesington Adebutu, to help prevail on his son to withdraw the case from tribunal.
“There is practically nobody that Dapo has not sent to beg Ladi’s father in order for his son to step down the case as it’s becoming obvious that it is not going to be in his favour.
“But to me, I’ll say it’s shameless of the governor because this same illustrious son of Ogun State was dishonoured by your predecessor, Amosun, in a government you were also actively involved in before the two of you fall out with each other.”
Recall that during the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, four ICT polytechnics were established in the state and named after notable indigenes in order to ease maintenance costs of the schools and its facilities.
The one located at Saapade was named Kessington Adebutu ICT Polytechnic, with 60% of the building single-handedly built by the Adebutus.
“When Amosun became governor, he renamed only the school to Gateway ICT Polytechnic and when Dapo came, he still refused to return the name despite being from the same Remo with Adebutu. Go and check the fate of that institution now!
“So a man you couldn’t honour despite his massive contributions to the growth of Ogun State is the same one you’re begging to withdraw case from court. We know how much Baba Ijebu contributed during his first term election and even the just concluded one because Sir Adebutu believes in level playing ground.
“Not only this. During the rallies, Ladi Adebutu was refused the use of the stadiums in the state by the government and even the Kesington Under 18 Male Football Competition suffered in the governor’s hands because of his intolerance. Is this the person you’re now sending emissaries to?” the source asked.
Political pundits are of the opinion that the election tribunal will do proper justice to the case.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
