Appeal Court affirms Sanwo-Olu’s election

The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos on Wednesday dismissed the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and affirmed the election of Governor Babajide  Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Appeal Court Justices dismissed the appeal of the the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate Olajide Adediran, challenging the victory of Governor Sanwo-Olu for the inability to prove their cases.

Sanwo-Olu, Jandor and Vivour before the Court’s judgment

The three-man panel of the Appeal Court, in their judgement, unanimously upheld the judgement of the Lagos State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal which on September 25 affirmed the victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The Judges held that the appellants failed to prove their allegations of forgery and non-qualification against Sanwo-Olu and his deputy  Obafemi Hamzat.

The Judges, accordingly, declared: “Even though they were all pre-election matters, the appellants (PDP and Adeniran) still failed to prove them.

“The appellants came empty-handed and left empty-handed. They merely enjoyed their day in court.

“Their petition is dismissed.”

Earlier in the day, there were fears that the national strike embarked upon by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) which commenced on Tuesday, may on Wednesday, obstruct the proceedings at the Lagos Court of Appeal  and delay judgement fixed.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos was, however, not prevented by the strike to deliver judgement on Wednesday on the suit filed by the governorship candidates of the Labour Party, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abdulazeez Olajide Adediran, challenging the victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State in the March 18 governorship election.

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A notice was said to be sent out by the court to parties on Monday informing them that the court would deliver judgment at 3.00pm on Wednesday.

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There was tight security in and around the courtroom, while party leaders took their seats in the courtroom.

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The Lagos Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal had in September dismissed the petitions against Governor Sanwo-Olu by Vivour and Jandor for lack of merit.