Akinlade takes legal battle to upturn Gov Abiodun’s victory to Supreme Court

Adekunle Akinlade, the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in the last general election in Ogun State has said he would drag Governor Dapo Abiodun to the Supreme Court.

Akinlade, despite losing the legal battle at the tribunal and Appeal Court, appears not ready to let go of his hope of upturning the outcome of the March, 2019 governorship election in Ogun State.

On November 11, 2019 the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State dismissed Akinlade’s appeal challenging Abiodun’s victory.

However, Akinlade, addressing his supporters at the party secretariat in Abeokuta on Saturday said he still has firm hope in Nigeria’s legal system not minding the two previous rulings that failed to favour him.

Read also: We’re not aware! INEC says it has no report of PDP claim that Gov Bello is altering results

He said his plans to pursue the matter to the Supreme Court was decided by elders and leaders across the state and that his counsel has studied the reasons alluded by the Court of Appeal for upholding the rulings of the election tribunal.

He told the party faithful, “As you all know, we rightfully decided to challenge the governorship election result of March 9th, 2019. Subsequently, the Election Petition Tribunal and Court of Appeal dismissed our petition on the grounds that the cornerstone of our case was a pre-election matter thus, status bar.

“Our conviction and belief in the legal system remain unshaken despite the two previous judgments. Yesterday, the 15th of November, 2019, elders and leaders across the state met and unanimously agreed that we must approach the Supreme Court to test the strength of our case.

“Our counsel has studied the reasons alluded to by the Court of Appeal for upholding the rulings of the lower court (election tribunal) and advised us accordingly.

” I therefore, state that we shall be approaching the Supreme Court for justice.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now