TheNewsGuru

Tag: Adebutu

  • Ogun: APC welcomes Adebutu’s petition against re-election of Gov. Abiodun

    Ogun: APC welcomes Adebutu’s petition against re-election of Gov. Abiodun

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun says it welcomes the filing of petition against the re-election of Gov. Dapo Abiodun by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Oladipupo Adebutu.

    Adebutu and PDP filed a petition challenging the outcome of the March 18 election at the electoral petition tribunal on Thursday in Abeokuta.

    They joined INEC, APC and Gov. Abiodun as first, second and third respondents, respectively.

    They asked the tribunal to direct INEC to conduct fresh election in 99 polling units in 41 wards and in 16 of the 20 local government areas of the state.

    They alleged that elections were either not held and or were cancelled in the polling units listed because of disruption of the exercise and over-voting.

    They also asked the tribunal to order the fresh election to the exclusion of APC and Gov. Abiodun.

    Responding to the petition on Saturday in Abeokuta, APC’s Publicity Secretary in Ogun, Mr Tunde Oladunjoye, stated that it was good that Adebutu had decided to toe the path of civility and honour as advised by the APC.

    He added that APC hoped that after filing the petition, Adebutu would desist from cheap blackmail, sponsored protests, incitements, false claims and propaganda.

    “We also take cognisance of his claims when he went to file the petition and wish to advise that he should not intimidate or stampede the tribunal.

    “His lawyers should advise him against ignoble attitude, knowing full well that a case is determined by extant laws, facts and evidence and not on fantasies and whims of any of the parties, no matter how plausible.

    “They have stated their claims. They should expect our response.

    “Suffice it to say that Adebutu who said he won the election is asking the court to disqualify Gov. Abiodun from a rerun if his prayer that election should be held in certain polling units is upheld,’’ he stated.

    Oladunjoye added that the APC would leave its lawyers to do justice to the petition.

    “While we leave our team of lawyers to do justice to issues raised in the petition, we advise Adebutu to conduct himself as a citizen of Ogun under the leadership of Gov. Abiodun.

    “Abiodun, by the grace of God and the benevolence of the good people of Ogun, remains the governor of our beloved state,’’ Oladunjoye added.

    INEC declared Gov. Abiodun as winner of the election on March 19, having polled 276,298 votes against Adebutu’s 262,383 votes.

  • Ogun guber poll: PDP, Adebutu drag INEC, APC, Gov. Abiodun before tribunal

    Ogun guber poll: PDP, Adebutu drag INEC, APC, Gov. Abiodun before tribunal

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun and its governorship candidate at the March 18 election, Mr Ladi Adebutu filed a petition against the outcome of the election on Friday in Abeokuta.

    Announcing the result of the election on March 19, INEC declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gov. Dapo Abiodun as winner having polled 276,298 votes against Adebutu’s 262,383 votes.

    In the petition filed on Friday, the PDP and Adebutu listed INEC, APC and Gov. Abiodun as the first, second and third respondents, respectively.

    They asked the tribunal to direct INEC to conduct fresh election in 99 polling units in 41 wards and 16 of the 20 local government areas of the state.

    They alleged that elections were either not held and or cancelled in the polling units listed because of disruption of the exercise and over-voting.

    They asked the tribunal to order the fresh election to the exclusion of APC and Gov. Abiodun.

    Petitioners’ lead counsel, Mr Goddy Uche (SAN) expressed confidence that the outcome of the petition would favour the PDP and Adebutu.

    He said the petition stood on four pillars that would knock out the result announced by INEC and expressed confidence that the tribunal will do the needful and do its best.

    “We have about three senior advocates in our team and a host of other lawyers.

    “We have up to four grounds, very solid ones. Our prayers are just that the right thing is done and the man who won is given the mantle of office,’’ he said.

    “We want the tribunal to declare that Adebutu won the highest number of valid votes cast at the election and satisfied the requirements of the Constitution.

    “We want the tribunal to declare that Adebutu ought to have been returned and is returned as the winner of the governorship election,’’ Uche said.

    Also addressing newsmen, Adebutu said: “we are here today in continuation of our pursuit of our democratic rights because we have had an election that we truly believe we have represented the people fairly.

    “The people have responded by voting fairly for us in an election we believe we won and we will continue to seek our mandate within the ambit of the law.’’

  • Results must be uploaded immediately to server – Adebutu tells INEC

    Results must be uploaded immediately to server – Adebutu tells INEC

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)  governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, has issued a warning to the  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to upload the results of the March 18 elections into the server using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.

    The Iperu born politician asked the electorates in Ogun state to monitor the voting exercise and ensure that officials of INEC comply with the guideline, which mandated them to transmit results electronically from the polling units, wards and local government collation centres.

    He appealed to  Ogun people to go out en masse on Saturday and vote for the PDP, while also securing their votes.

    Adebutu made this call on  Wednesday when he was addressing PDP supporters at a mega rally held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    According to him, some people are planning to rig the Saturday election with thugs, who they have recruited to intimidate, harass voters and prevent them from voting.

    He said some candidates were afraid of the growing popularity of the PDP, vowing that the PDP would not allow anybody to unleash their thugs on the state.

    According to him, eight persons suspected to be political thugs were arrested inside a hotel in Iperu on Tuesday, while planning to unleash mayhem on the state.

    He called on the people of the state to remain calm and ensure they vote their conscience on Saturday.

    “Don’t be scared, we are aware of their plan to bring in thugs into the state to intimidate people from voting, but don’t be scared.

    “I want to assure you that the security operatives are already arresting some of their thugs. Today (Tuesday), eight among the thugs were arrested from where they were hiding in the roof of a hotel in Iperu. Be assured that all of them will be arrested, just inform me.

    “Stay and protect your votes, let them count your votes and ensure that the results are uploaded by INEC officials, once your votes are counted and uploaded, I can assure you that your votes will count and we will have good governance in Ogun State.

    “We have worked hard, this party has worked hard and we shall take you back to good governance,” he said.

     

  • APC planning to rig election with thugs in Ogun – Adebutu

    APC planning to rig election with thugs in Ogun – Adebutu

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun, Ladi Adebutu, has accused All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of planning to rig Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly elections with thugs.

    Adebutu made the allegation while addressing hundreds of PDP supporters at a mega rally in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

    Adebutu had earlier marched round Abeokuta, accompanied by Segun Showunmi and other chieftains of the party.

    He said that PDP had uncovered the plan by APC and Gov. Dapo Abiodun to import thugs into the state to intimidate, harass and prevent voters from performing their civic duties.

    Adebutu said that Abiodun and APC were afraid of PDP’s growing popularity, stressing that his party would not allow them unleash their thugs on the state.

    He called on the people of the state to remain calm and ensure that they come out en masse on Saturday to vote according to their conscience and report activities of any hoodlum to security agencies.

    “Do not be scared. We are aware of their (APC) plan to bring thugs into the state to intimidate people from voting.

    “I want to assure you that security operatives are already arresting some of their thugs. Yesterday, eight of them were arrested from where they were hiding in the roof of a hotel in Iperu.

    “Be assured that all of them will be arrested; just inform me when you notice any suspicious movement of thugs or people of questionable character and we will ensure that they do not unleash their thugs on the people of Ogun State.

    “If you notice any strange movement of thugs in your area, please let me know; send me the address and we shall report to the appropriate authority.

    The PDP governorship candidate noted that the government at the centre was against thuggery and election manipulation, adding that everyone must be allowed to vote according to his/her conscience.

    “We will call them in Abuja and report their violent acts to the appropriate authority. Go all out and vote without fear. Stay and protect your votes; let them count your votes and ensure that the results are uploaded.

    “Once your votes are counted and uploaded, I can assure you that your vote will count and we will have good governance in Ogun State.

    “We have worked hard; our party has worked hard and we shall take you back to good governance.

    “All is well with us. What we want you to do on Saturday is to open your arms and receive all the new entrants and we vote in unison to save Ogun State from total chaos, destruction and bad governance.

    “Where they cheated us with BVAS in the last election, we have taken note of them and we have moved to make sure that such does not happen again,” he said.

    Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Kunle Somorin, however, described the allegation as baseless and presumptuous.

    “It is a baseless and presumptuous lamentation of a banal, reckless and rejected candidate.

    “He (Adebutu) is already bemoaning his impending defeat and looking for who to blame for his anticipated landslide loss,” he Somorin said.

  • PDP’s Adebutu remains our governorship candidate, says Ogun Accord Party

    PDP’s Adebutu remains our governorship candidate, says Ogun Accord Party

    Accord Party in Ogun says there is no going back in the adoption of Mr Ladi Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as its candidate for the March 18 governorship election.

    Alhaji Tajudeen Olayokun, the state Chairman of Accord Party, said this at a news conference held at the party’s secretariat, on Saturday in Abeokuta.

    Olayokun dispelled reports of the party joining forces with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state ahead of the governorship election.

    The Accord Party chairman explained that the party and its supporters remain cordial with Adebutu of PDP on his candidacy.

    “I am here this morning to address the issue of some miscreants and misguided elements flying news of calumny about our party in Ogun State toward supporting a political party and others.

    “I will like to bring it to the notice of the good people of Ogun state, that Ogun state Accord Party remains cordial with Ladi Adebutu of PDP on his candidacy come March 18 as our governorship candidate.

    “The news of Accord Party in the state pitching tent with APC should be thrashed and we hereby distance ourselves from such lies,” he said.

    Olayokun noted that the decision to support the PDP governorship candidate was because his ideology tallied with that of Accord Party in terms of capacity building, rural and infrastructure development, agriculture and security.

    “The party decided to throw its weight behind a reliable candidate with competence, character and goodwill in the interest of the people of the state.

    “Our members should disregard anything contrary. We don’t have anything to do with APC. We are happy that Adebutu, the governorship candidate of the PDP is trusted and share the same ideology with us,’’ he said.

  • BREAKING: Appeal court nullifies Adebutu’s nomination as Ogun PDP Gov candidate

    BREAKING: Appeal court nullifies Adebutu’s nomination as Ogun PDP Gov candidate

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has set aside an earlier judgment of the Federal High Court given in favour of a factional governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu.

    In a judgement on Friday, a three-member panel of the Appeal Court held that Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja (now retired) was wrong to have declined jurisdiction to entertain a suit by Jimi Adebisi Lawal.

    Lawal is, by his suit, challenging the PDP’s utilisation of a delegates’ list, in the conduct of the governorship primary election on May 25, 2022 as against the list of delegates, who were democratically elected for that purpose at the ward congresses.

    Delivering the lead judgment of the Court of Appeal on Friday, Justice Biobele Georgewill held that the issue in the case is pre-election related, over which the Federal High Court has jurisdiction.

    Justice Georgewill proceeded to make an order remitting the case to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the hearing of the case on the merit.

    The judge held that since the trial court failed decide the suit on its merit and the period of 180 days, for determination of pre-election cases, is still running, suit should remitted to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for prompt assignment to another judge for trial.

    Other members of the panel, Justices M. Mustapha and Danlami Senchi agreed with the lead judgment

    Details to follow…

  • 2023: PDP decides on its governorship candidate in Ogun

    2023: PDP decides on its governorship candidate in Ogun

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun has reaffirmed that Hon. Ladi Adebutu, remains its candidate for the 2023 governorship election in the state.

    The state PDP Chairman, Hon. Sikirulai Ogundele stated this at a news briefing in Abeokuta on Thursday.

    Ogundele noted that the primary election that produced Adebutu and other candidates were conducted in line with the electoral law and party guidelines.

    “The gubernatorial primary, held at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), as approved by the national office on May 25, produced only one candidate for our party and that person is Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu who emerged with 714 votes.

    “By this, it goes to say and confirm that PDP in Ogun never conducted anything close to parallel congress anywhere.

    “Anybody or group of persons hiding anywhere, claiming to have emerged as PDP candidate at any level of the party primary is merely living in fool’s paradise,” he said.

    The PDP chairman, therefore, urged members of the party and the public to discountenance contrary reports.

    He advised the aspirants, who were not satisfied with the conduct and outcome of the primary elections, to seek legal redress.

    “We must say that we recognise and appreciate individual’s right and liberty to proceed to court to seek legal redress against the party,” he said.

    Ogundele, however, advised them to first explore the internal mechanism put in place by the party before heading for court.

    He added that with the conclusion of its national convention, the party would soon present a list containing detailed particulars and information of its candidates for all elective positions.

    The list, according to him, will also be made available to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant bodies for further actions.

    Mr Jimi Lawal, a governorship aspirant on the PDP platform in the state, had called on the national leadership of the party to cancel the governorship primary in the state and organise another one to chose its flag bearer.

    Lawal claimed that the authentic list of the party’s delegates was manipulated to contain names of people who were not elected at the ward congresses.

    Mr Segun Sowunmi, another governorship aspirant, had emerged as candidate at a parallel congress held at Iwe-Irohin on May 25.

    Sowunmi had also gone to court to seek dissolution of the party’s state Executive Committee, claiming bias on its part.

  • Ogun 2023: Wike, Fayose throw their weight behind Adebutu

    Ogun 2023: Wike, Fayose throw their weight behind Adebutu

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers, and former governor of Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose, have endorsed Ladi Adebutu for the 2023 gubernatorial election in Ogun.

    The duo declared their support on Wednesday in Abeokuta at the official declaration of Adebutu for the 2023 gubernatorial race in Ogun under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    Wike, in his remark, noted that Adebutu had continued to spend his personal money and resources to assist the people of the state.

    He assured that electing him as the governor of the state would afford him a greater capacity to empower the people more.

    The governor described Adebutu as a courageous leader who stood and fought for the party when other leaders left.

    He, therefore, called on members and chieftains of the party, as well as the people of the state, to support Adebutu in his ambition to become governor of the state.

    Wike, who had also declared interest in the 2023 presidential race under the PDP platform, solicited support of the delegates ahead of the May 28 presidential primaries of the party/

    Also, Fayose recalled that the party had in times past “struggled and travelled through the forest” in the state.

    He, however, commended Adebutu for standing firm and navigating through troubled waters to restore the party to a formidable force in the state.

    “After many years of struggle, it has indeed been tough, but we thank God that Adebutu has been able to emerge a worthy leader of PDP in Ogun by reconciling factional groups together,” he said.

    Adebutu, while responding, assured that if elected as governor, he would put in place a deliberate, concerted and determined team that would work together in recovering Ogun back from the shackles of disjointed and wasteful programmes.

    He added that he would engage in deliberate actions and outcomes driven approach that would deliver the expectations of the generality of the citizens in a cost-effective and community-driven way.

    Adebutu explained that he would ensure rapid, balanced and sustainable economic development.

    “This will be supported by instituting the appropriate reforms in the government machinery that ensures continuity, sustainability, good governance and effective performance by credible leadership,” he said.

  • My son’s crashed marriage to Adebutu’s daughter has nothing to do with us – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says the crashed marriage between his son, Olujuwon and the daughter of his friend, a prominent philanthropist, Chief Kesington Adebutu, has nothing to do with their friendship.

    Obasanjo made the disclosure on Saturday in Abeokuta, two years after the marriage crumbled during the conferment of first honorary member on Adebutu at the 45th President’s party of Abeokuta Sports Club.

    The children of the two prominent Nigerians got married in May 2017 but later broke up nearly one year later.

    Obasanjo, who handled the conferment on Adebutu on behalf of the club, said their children got married of their own volition hence, he and his friend should not be made to pay for the consequence of the crashed marriage.

    He said, “The honoree of today has rendered marvelous services to Egbaland. The Park Inn, which is the old Gateway Hotel, would have still remained in derelict if not for the services, commitment of the honoree.

    “One thing you never said about him and I wonder why the citation left that out, you know not too long ago my son and your daughter on their own decided to get married but what happened to their marriage is between them, not between us.

    “But Odole (his chieftaincy title) is our in-law and not just ordinary in-law but in-law from a distinguished family. Mama Ibeji on his right is from Ake, daughter of Toye Coker. On behalf of the grand patron, patron, vice patrons, President and all the officials and members of Abeokuta Club, and by the power conferred on me for this special occasion, I do confer honorary membership of Abeokuta Club on Odole Oodua, Sir Kesington Adebutu.”

    President of Abeokuta Club, Tokunbo Odebunmi, in his speech described Adebutu as a philanthropist, saying he didn’t need to be introduced because of his immense contributions to the economy.

    He said, “Adebutu is a man that needs no introduction judging by his immense contributions to the economic development of Egbaland and mankind in general and this honour is our own humble way of appreciating his numerous contributions in Egbaland.

  • Ogun PDP crisis: Again, Adebutu loses to Kashamu in Court

    Ogun PDP crisis: Again, Adebutu loses to Kashamu in Court

    The Federal High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State has refused the application of a member of the House of Representatives, Oladipupo Adebutu and others seeking to prevent the Governorship candidate of the PDP in Ogun State, Senator Buruji Kashamu and others from being joined as “necessary and interested parties” in a suit pending before the court.

    Adebutu and others had filed the suit in which they are asking the court for an order of mandamus to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish their names in place of the ones already published by the Commission.

    When the matter came up, counsel to Kashamu and others, Prince Raphael Ajibola Oluyede, informed the court that his clients who were the candidates whose names had been published by INEC were interested in the matter but were not joined, hence, they had filed an application as interveners who were willing to be joined.

    But, counsel to the Plaintiffs, Mr. Afolabi Fashanu (SAN) objected to the joining of the applicant/interveners.

    After much arguments, the court, as presided by the Honourable Justice Abubakar Shittu held that the applicant/interveners were necessary parties that should have been joined. Consequently, the court joined them.

    Thereafter, Oluyede informed the court that they had filed an affidavit disclosing that the Plaintiffs and their collaborators were parading themselves as candidates of the party while they were still before the court praying to be declared as candidates.

    He added that they plan to hold a rally where they would be paraded and flags presented to them as candidates of the party even when INEC has not published their names and for which reason they were before the court.

    Oluyede submitted that such an action could lead to a breakdown of law and order and render the case before the court nugatory, if the court did not intervene, adding that the Police had already summoned an emergency security meeting based on the tension being generated by the matter.

    He prayed the court to direct the police not to grant any permission for a rally where flags would be presented to Adebutu and others.

    Alternatively, he urged the court to declare that if such a rally must hold, it was only those whose names had been published by INEC as the authentic candidates of the PDP in Ogun State that should be presented as candidates of the party in the state.

    Fashanu opposed the prayers, saying they were speculative.

    Ruling on the prayers, the court held that where the issue of a potential breakdown of law and order was raised, it has a duty to look at it and take steps to prevent it, adding that the Rule of Law was the basis upon which INEC and the parties conduct their activities.

    The court held that where the Rule of Law was jettisoned, it would result in the break down of law and order such as being raised by the applicant.

    The court then directed the parties in the matter (i.e. the plaintiffs and the respondents) and their counsel to refrain from being used to foist a fait accompli on the court or cause a breakdown of law and order.

    It also directed PDP not to hold anyone out or present anyone as candidates except those who names have been published by INEC pending the hearing and determination of the suits before it, stressing that anything done contrary to the position of the law would be contemptuous and could lead to the breakdown of law and order.

    The court adjourned till 14th February, 2019, for hearing of the substantive suit and all pending applications before it.