Tribunal Delivers Judgement In PDP, LP Petitions Against Sanwo-Olu Today

The Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has fixed today as judgement day in the petitions filed by the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the March 18 election, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Olajide Adediran (Jandor), against the election of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The tribunal led by Justice Arum Igyen Ashom had on August 12 reserved judgement after lawyers in the petitions adopted their final written addresses before the court.

However, the tribunal on Saturday informed parties in the suit that judgement would be delivered today.

Rhodes-Vivour, in his petition marked EPT/LAG/GOV/04/2023 dated April 9, 2023, had urged the tribunal to nullify Sanwo-Olu’s election on grounds that he was allegedly not qualified to run for the election.The

LP candidate, in his petition, also contended that Sanwo-Olu’s emergence as winner “was invalid by reason of corrupt practices or non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”

He argued that, “The second respondent was not duly elected by the majority of the lawful votes cast at the election.”

Adediran, in his petition, contended that Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, were at the time of election not qualified to run.

He also said the LP candidate, Rhodes-Vivour, who was declared the first runner-up, was equally not qualified to participate in the election.

Jandor is urging the tribunal to declare all the votes cast for the APC and the LP candidates as wasted votes.

Benue PDP rejects tribunal judgement, heads to A/Court

Meanwhile, the Benue State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the judgement of the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal dismissing the party’s petition and that of its candidate, Engr Titus Uba.

The PDP and Uba had approached the tribunal challenging the declaration of Hyacinth Alia by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as governor of the state in the March 18 poll.

But the three-man tribunal panel led by Justice Ibrahim Karaye, on Saturday, dismissed their petition and upheld Alia’s election.

Following the development, the state Publicity Secretary of PDP, Bemgba Iortyom, in a statement said after a review of the judgement with its team of lawyers, the party believed it does not meet the requirements of substantive justice and is not in alignment with extant electoral laws, guidelines and regulations.

He said the party has accordingly directed its lawyers to appeal the judgement at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, within the timeframe specified by law.

The PDP also urged its teeming supporters across the state to be calm and of good cheer in the faith that though the walk to justice may be long, the goal of reclaiming the governorship mandate will surely be achieved in the end.