A three-member tribunal panel led by Justice Arum Ashom, yesterday, affirmed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the duly elected governor of Lagos State.
The Lagos State election petition tribunal struck out an application by the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 18 election, Dr Abdulazeez Adediran (a.k.a. Jandor), seeking a declaration that Sanwo-Olu was not qualified to contest the poll.
Adediran had contended that Sanwo-Olu was wrongfully nominated and sponsored by his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and, therefore, was not qualified for the election.
However, Justice Mikail Abdullahi, while reading the tribunal’s decision on the matter, held that the position did not form part of the grounds for disqualification for election into the office of a governor, under Sections 177 and 182 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended).
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The tribunal also declared that it has no powers to inquire into the primary election of the APC which produced Mr Sanwo-Olu, saying it is a pre-election matter which doesn’t fall under its jurisdiction.
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.”
The tribunal later dismissed the LP’s candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour’s petition against Sanwo-Olu. Justice Arum Ashom who read the judgement late Monday held that the petition lacked merit.
The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Sanwo-Olu of the APC winner of the governorship election.
He polled 762,134 votes to beat Mr Rhodes-Vivour, who scored 312,329 votes. Jide Adediran came a distant third, polling 62,449 votes.
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