At a hearing in the Supreme Court in Abuja, the counsel representing the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ogun State governorship election case, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, vehemently dismissed the document relied upon in the Petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as “orphan and dubious.”
During the hearing, Oyetibo cited Section 179 and contended that the Lead Counsel to PDP, Chris Uche, SAN, failed to provide evidence to support the claim that the Governorship Election of 18th March in the State was wrongly and unlawfully concluded.
Oyetibo further argued that the Appellants had strayed from the main case they presented to the Tribunal, indicating that they initially asserted the election was inconclusive but failed to prove their claim. He specifically pointed out that the document, Exhibit PT609, which formed the crux of the Appellants’ case, lacked essential details such as a name, title, signature, and date, rendering it worthless.
In response, Chief Uche adopted all briefs as his argument in the appeal and implored the court to allow the appeal and overturn the majority decision of the Court of Appeal. Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, representing the second Respondent, echoed the call to dismiss the appeal, emphasizing the need for consistency in presenting the case. Similarly, Counsel to the First Respondent, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) A J Owonikoko, SAN, prayed for the dismissal of the appeal.
The Supreme Court thereafter reserved judgment on the matter, leaving the outcome of the appeal in the balance. This pivotal case has drawn widespread attention, shaping the future of the gubernatorial election in Ogun State and underlining the complex, high-stakes nature of Nigerian politics.
