The Lagos State Governorship Election Tribunal headed by Justice Arum Ashom, today dismissed the petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) against the victory of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Saturday 18 March 2023 governorship election, affirmed the re-election of the governor.
PDP’s candidate, Olajide Adediran, alias Jandor and LP Candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour challenged the victory of Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Obafemi Hamzat at the March 18, 2023, governorship election held in the state.
The Tribunal held that the petitions, against the governor, which were dead on arrival lack merit, stressing, “We have considered the evidence before this court. He has the highest number of votes. This petition is dead on arrival.”
Contrary to the petitions of Adediran and Rhodes-Vivour, Justice Mikhail Abdullahi held that the respondents were qualified to contest the March 18, 2023, governorship election in the state under section 177 of the Constitution.
Justifying their qualifications to contest the election, the Tribunal pointed out that the respondents are members of political parties and educated up to school certificate level, adding that Section 177 of the constitution stipulated that “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of Governor of a State if:
(a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth;
(b) he has attained the age of thirty-five years;
(c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and
(d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.”
The Tribunal stated that with the consideration to the evidence before the Tribunal, the grounds on which PDP is seeking disqualification of 2nd and 3rd respondents lack merit, thus, “I have found Gov Sanwo-Olu and deputy, Dr Hamzat duly elected and therefore declared them winner.”
