Lagos gov’ship: PDP laments delay in commencement of tribunal’s proceedings

The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decried the delay in the commencement of tribunal proceedings on the 2023 governorship election in the state.

The governorship candidate of the PDP in Lagos State, Dr Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (JANDOR), and the party had submitted a petition before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, calling for the disqualification of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) candidates in the election for non-compliance with the Constitution of Nigeria and the Electoral Act 2022.

In the petition marked, EPT/LAG/GOV/01/2023, dated 7th April, 2023, the petitioners, Adediran and the PDP, are challenging the outcome of the March 18, governorship election on grounds of “substantial non-compliance” with the Electoral Law, as well as the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While INEC is the 1st respondent, Mr Sanwo-Olu, the deputy governorship candidate, Dr Hamzat Kadri Obafemi, the APC, the LP governorship candidate, Arch Rhodes-Vivour Gbadebo Patrick, and the LP respectively are the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th respondents.

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Adediran and PDP in their petition are claiming that at the time of the governorship election, Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat and Rhodes-Vivour were not qualified to contest the election and therefore pray that all votes cast for them in the election be declared wasted.

The PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Hakeem Amode, in a statement yesterday, lamented that over a month after the petition was submitted, the tribunal was yet to commence sitting.

The statement reads in part: “While we are not trying to interfere with the activities of the court, we believe that time is of essence and that the earlier the issues are resolved the better as democracy appears to be on trial in the cosmopolitan state.

“Our party is ever ready to provide quality leadership for the people of the state compared to the current situation.

“We have much belief in the judiciary and we know that all the issues raised would be painstakingly considered so that the people of Lagos State would enjoy a new lease of life.”