- Seeks A Rerun Over Lead Margin
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state has been re-elected for a second term in a keenly contested election amid incidents of massive vote-buying in some parts.
Abiodun, the the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared the winner of the Ogun governorship election which held in the state on Saturday by the commission’s Returning officer in the state, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, Vice Chancellor University of Ibadan.
Abiodun polled a total of 276,298 votes to defeat his main challenger, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 262,383.
The Ogun Governor defeated the PDP candidate with 13,915 vote margin to emerge victorious, winning 12 LGAs to Adebutu’s 8, according to INEC.
Meanwhile, the Senator Ibikunle Amosun – backed candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Olubiyi Otegbeye, came a distant third with 94,754 votes.
However, there was mild drama before Abiodun was announced as the winner of the poll as PDP collation agent, Sunkanmi Oyejide, asked the Returning Officer not to declare a winner in the election and called for a rerun.
This is as Oyejide, who quoted Section 24(3) of the Electoral Act as amended said INEC should consider a clause that orders the commission to declare a rerun in the case of total rejected votes outnumbering the lead margin.
“If we invoke the principle of lead of margin enshrine in the electoral act 2022, the rejected votes according to results submitted to local government are far higher than the lead of margin.” The PDP Collation agent said as the party has already distributed an election petition right there at the venue of the State collation.
Reacting to the argument, the Returning Officer, Adebowale said, “I have tried to check our records and I want to say that everything he said is at variance with what we have as records.
“But, if it is found to be incorrect. INEC has seven days to review its decision.”
The APC won in Odeda, Egbado-North, Egbado-South, Ewekoro, Ijebu-North, Ijebu-Ode, Ipokia , Abeokuta-North. Ado-Odo/Ota, Ifo, Obafemi-Owode and Imeko-Afon local government areas of the state.
The PDP won in Abeokuta-South, Ogun Waterside, Ijebu-North/East, Ikenne, Ijebu-East, Remo-North, Odogbolu and Sagamu.
Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu (PDP): 262,383
Dapo Abiodun(APC): 276,298 votes
Olubiyi Otegbeye (ADC): 94,754
Rejected votes; 18,835.
Valid Votes: 645,133
Total votes cast: 663,968
Details later…
