On November 24, 2023, an X user (formerly Twitter) tweeted that the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, had been sacked by the Court of Appeal. He added that the Appeal Court ordered a rerun in 99 polling units of the state.
He said, “Just in: Appeal Court sacked Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state, order for rerun in 99 Polling Units.”
More than 24 hours after tweeting, the post has garnered over 95,000 views and over 300 views .
Claim: Appeal Court sacks Dapo Abiodun and ordered a rerun in 99 polling units
Verification:
On March 19, 2023, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the gubernatorial election, having defeated Bayo Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to the INEC State Returning Officer, Kayode Adebowale, who announced the result, the APC candidate scored 276,298 votes to emerge the winner of the keenly contested election. Ladi Adebutu of the PDP polled 262,383 votes to come second, while Biyi Otegbeye of the ADC polled 94, 754 votes to come third.
Dissatisfied by the declaration, Adebutu of the PDP approached the tribunal. He alleged that the election did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act and was marred with irregularities and corrupt practices. He added that over 40,000 voters were disenfranchised due to violence and pleaded with the court to nullify the election and declare him the winner. However, the tribunal upheld the election of the governor.
Adebutu of the PDP went further to the Appeal court, seeking to upturn the tribunal’s decision.
On November 24, 2023, the Appeal Court, Lagos Division, affirmed the re-election of Dapo Abiodun by dismissing the petition filed by Ladi Adebutu. Two of the judges, in their majority decision delivered by Shagbaor Ikyegh, upheld the election and declaration by INEC, thus affirming Dapo Abiodun of the APC as the governor of the state.
However, one of the three judges handed down a minority verdict. In the minority decision, Jane Inyang ruled that INEC should conduct a fresh election within the next 90 days.
It is important to know that the minority decision can not override the majority decision. Therefore, the majority decision will be regarded as the court’s decision. Hence, the majority decision upheld the re-election of Dapo Abiodun of the APC.
Dapo Abiodun has released a statement on his official X page (formerly Twitter), welcoming the decision of the Appellate Court.
Verdict: FALSE
The Appeal Court did not sack Dapo Abiodun or order for a rerun in the state. The Court, in the majority judgment delivered by Justice Joseph Ikyegh, affirmed the re-election of Dapo Abiodun of the APC as the duly elected governor of Ogun State and dismissed the appeal by Ladi Adebutu of the PDP.