..returning officer affirms INEC can order rerun within 7 days, if allegations are true
The Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu, has kicked against the cancellation of results in 54 pollings units in Ogun State during Saturday's Governorship poll in the state.
Adebutu who is the main challenger to governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said results in 54 polling units spread across Remo North, Sagamu, Ifo, Abeokuta South, Egbado South and Ado/Odo/Ota local governments areas of Ogun State were cancelled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the election, describing it as “disenfrachising of electorates” in his strongholds.
The former federal lawmaker who spoke through the State Agent of the PDP in respect of the governorship poll, Mr Oyejide Sunkanmi, called on the Commission to investigate the cancellations and direct a rerun in the affected areas.
The PDP governorship candidate noted that the call for a rerun is a legitimate demand, citing the electoral Act section 24 subsection 3 which provides that a rerun should be ordered where violence hindered the electorate, electoral officials and materials from being freely deployed for the purpose of election.
According to him, if the total number of cancelled votes is far higher than the margin of lead or winning between the winner and the first runner up, a rerun becomes advisable in the affected places.
He noted that reports gathered from the field revealed that INEC cancelled election results from polling units widely known to be his “Political strongholds” to technically chip away votes accruable to him from such units.
He accused the agents of the ruling APC of instigating the purported violence that preceded the said cancellations, ostensibly to whittle down the winning strength of the PDP in the affected units.
He also cited Remo North Local Government where votes were cancelled due to BVAS malfunction, asking why should the electorates be disenfranchised for no fault of theirs?
Responding, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan,Prof. Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, who is the Returning Officer for Ogun State governorship poll, said he had examined the records of the Returning Officers (ROs) of the affected and found the PDP’s complaints at variance with that of the ROs.
“What was said are at variance with our records, however if they are found to be correct later, INEC has up to 7 days to order a rerun,” Prof. Adebowale said.
In the meantime, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared governor Dapo Abiodun winner of the Governorship election conducted in Ogun State yesterday, March 18,2023.
The major contenders in the epic gubernatorial contest were Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate; Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu and Senator Ibikunle Amosun backed – insurance guru; Barr. Olubiyi Otegbeye of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In declaring Abiodun winner, the returning officer who is the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, said Dapo Abiodun “having satisfied the requirements of the law is the winner and hereby declared as Governor – elect.”
The governor polled APC – 276,298 to beat his main challenger, PDP’S Adebutu who recorded 262,383 votes. Olubiyi Otegbeye of the ADC polled 94,754
Registered voters -2,688,305
Accredited voters 666506
Total valid votes -645,133
Total void votes -18,835
Total votes cast – 663,968
