Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Court of Appeal in Lagos has affirmed the judgment of the tribunal, confirming the return of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Mr Obafemi Hamzat as the Governor and Deputy Governor of Lagos state.
The justices of the appellate court in a unanimous decision dismissed the appeals of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) for lack of merit.
The judgement was delivered by Justice Yargata Nimpa, Justice Samuel Bola, and Justice Paul Bassey.
The governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, and the PDP, Mr Abdulazeez Olajide Adediran, otherwise known as Jandor, were once again challenging the victory of Governor Sanwo-Olu in the March 25 governorship election.
On September 25, the Lagos Election Petitions Tribunal dismissed the parties’ petitions against the incumbent governor for lack of merit.
Last week, the Court of Appeal panel led by Justice Yargata Nimpar reserved judgment in the two appeals after listening to the arguments of the parties.
In his submission before the justices, the lead counsel to Mr Rhodes-Vivour, Mr Olagbade Benson, urged the court to allow the appeal, grant the reliefs sought and set aside the decision of the tribunal.
He also urged the court to interpret Section 182 (1) (a) of the Constitution and its implication to the qualification of the 2nd and 3rd respondents.
On October 7, the LP candidate filed his notice of appeal containing 21 grounds of appeal challenging the decision of the State Governorship Tribunal which upheld the return of the incumbent Sanwo-Olu.
The appeal, among others, stated that the tribunal erred in law when it relied on the Court of Appeal’s decision in the petition of Mr Peter Gregory Obi & Anor. Vs. INEC & Ors. to strike out the evidence of all his subpoenaed witnesses.
Another includes calling for the disqualification of Mr Sanwo-Olu and his deputy having found that Mr Hamzat is a naturalised citizen of United States of America who made a declaration of allegiance to that country.
