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Three civil society organisations have approached the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking the disqualification of the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, from public office over allegations of perjury and alleged submission of false documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The suit (No: FHC/L/CS/2026), filed by the Human Global Resource Initiative, Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) and Buna Olaitan Isiak, named Governor Abiodun, the Department of State Services (DSS), INEC and some major political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), as defendants.
In the suit, the groups are challenging conflicting educational records that the Governor has allegedly presented over time.
The crux of the litigation centres on sworn declarations made by the Governor ahead of the 2014, 2019 and 2023 general elections. The applicants alleged that Abiodun’s claims regarding his academic history were riddled with contradictions.
Specifically, the court has been asked to scrutinise a 2014 affidavit, where the Governor claimed to have attended the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, in 1986 and Kennesaw State University in 1989.
The plaintiffs also pointed to discrepancies in his primary school records, noting that he allegedly listed two different institutions for the year 1971 across separate INEC filings.
Beyond academic credentials, the suit raised a more serious charge, alleging non-disclosure of a prior legal indictment. Most notably, the applicants alleged that Abiodun failed to disclose a 1986 indictment and imprisonment (referenced as Exhibit HURMA-7) in his 2014, 2018 and 2022 submissions.
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Under Sections 66(1)(i) and 182(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution, the concealment of such material facts is enough grounds for disqualification.
Furthermore, the plaintiffs argued that since the Governor declared graduating in 1986 at age 26, he was legally mandated to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), suggesting any misrepresentation here constitutes a breach of oath.
The legal team, led by Professor Yemi Oke, SAN, argued that these actions violate the Electoral Act 2022.
Citing the Supreme Court precedent in Saleh v. Abah, the plaintiffs are seeking a perpetual injunction to restrain the INEC and political parties from ever recognizing or nominating Abiodun for elective office again.
“A false declaration of oath strikes at the heart of constitutional governance. If public officers can swear to incorrect information without consequence, it undermines the rule of law,” stated Buna Olaitan Isiak in a 40-paragraph supporting affidavit.
As of press time, a spokesman for Governor Abiodun could not be reached for an official statement regarding the filing.
This matter is allegedly being instituted due to the governor’s alleged senatorial ambition in 2027.
