Lagos Tribunal upholds Governor Sanwo-Olu’s election victory

The Lagos State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has affirmed the victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the duly elected governor of the state.

In a unanimous judgment read by Justice Mikail Abdullahi on behalf of the three-man panel, the tribunal dismissed the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate Olajide Adediran for lack of merit.

On the PDP’s argument that Sanwo-Olu and his deputy Obafemi Hamzat were validly nominated by their party the All Progressives Congress (APC); the tribunal cited relevant provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act to rule that it was a pre-election issue that did not relate to the conduct of the polls being challenged.

The tribunal also held that the petitioners are not members of the 4th respondent, the APC, and therefore have no locus to challenge the primaries of the party that produced both men.

On the issue of the forged certificate allegedly presented by Governor Sanwo-Olu, the tribunal wondered why Olajide Adeniran failed to call the principal of Sanwo-Olu‘s school (Community Grammar School, Ijebu-Ife) or any staff of the school to testify about the certificate.

In the final analysis, the tribunal held, “that the petition lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed.

“I affirm the election and return of Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu as the duly elected governor of Lagos state. Parties are to bear their cost.”