Abiodun also said he’s now focused on sustaining his legacies, which he laid when he assumed office in 2019
By Kehinde Okeowo
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has aimed a dig at his main challenger in the March 18, 2023 gubernatorial election and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ladi Adebutu, following Supreme Court’s affirmation of his election.
Speaking with journalists in Iperu, his home town, shortly after landing from Abuja after the verdict on Friday, he urged Adebutu to prepare for another governorship rerun in 2027.
The PDP candidate and his party had dragged Abiodun before the state election petition tribunal after Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of the Ogun governorship tussle.
Governor Abiodun was pronounced winner after garnering 276,298 votes, while Adebutu who came second trailed him with 13,915 votes after polling 262,383 votes.
ALSO READ: Ombugadu calls for calm amid protests in Nasarawa after S’Court’s verdict
While at the tribunal, the PDP candidate, argued that INEC, ought to have ordered a rerun of the poll having cancelled the election in 99 polling units with a total of over 40,000 voters surpassing the margin of 13,915 votes.
But in a unanimous judgement, the Supreme Court rejected Adebutu and PDP’s plea for a rerun.
Mocking the opposition while speaking, the governor cheekily said the PDP candidate should wait for a rerun in 2027 after he must have concluded his second term in office.
He said: “We hope our opponent who has been making a lot of noise about a rerun can prepare for a rerun in 2027.
“We will now focus on sustaining our legacies, the foundation of which we laid since we assumed office in 2019.
“In the coming weeks, you will see some of the goodies that we will be unveiling for the good people of Ogun State; we remain the fastest growing economy in Nigeria, the most improved economy in Nigeria, we will continue to build on these victories.
“All attempts to distract us have failed, it has been an emotional seesaw, psychological seesaw, emotional distraction, of course physical distraction as well.”
