Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, have jointly requested the Lagos State Governorship Election Tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by the Governorship Candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour. They argue that Rhodes-Vivour lacks the necessary evidence to substantiate his claims.
Following the March 18 governorship elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat as winners, having secured 762,134 lawful votes across all polling units, wards, and local governments in Lagos State. This victory also met the constitutional geographical spread requirement.
In contrast, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour secured 312,329 votes, placing second in the polls. However, his vote count was significantly less than half of the votes received by the declared winners and accounted for approximately 27 percent of the total valid votes cast.
Rhodes-Vivour’s petition, filed on April 9, contested the election outcome on various grounds, including alleged non-qualification and corrupt practices/non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act of 2022.
In a comprehensive 43-page final written submission submitted on July 22, Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat emphasized the petitioner’s lack of seriousness, noting his failure to provide witness statements or personally present evidence to support his case.
Sanwo-Olu contended that no substantial evidence was presented to challenge the legitimacy of the votes cast for the APC governor or to prove that the election did not comply with relevant laws.
They further argued that the petitioner’s claims lacked merit, particularly since none of the witnesses presented by Rhodes-Vivour endorsed the reliefs he sought. The absence of a witness statement or written deposition from Rhodes-Vivour himself was highlighted as indicative of his lack of commitment to the case.
Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat’s legal team, led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), alongside Adesegun Ajibola (SAN), Muiz Banire (SAN), Bode Olanipekun (SAN), Said Sanusi (SAN), and seven others, highlighted the need for compelling and substantial evidence to warrant altering the election results.
Regarding the alleged non-qualification of Governor Sanwo-Olu and the call for Rhodes-Vivour to be declared the winner due to his second-highest vote count, the respondents emphasized the significance of proving ongoing membership in the sponsoring political party, as required by Section 136 (2) of the Electoral Act.
Concerning the deputy governor, Obafemi Hamzat, the respondents challenged the credibility of the testimony provided by a subpoenaed witness who claimed to be an expert in Immigration Law in the USA. They pointed out inconsistencies and contradictions in her testimony and urged the Tribunal to disregard her claims.
In conclusion, Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat maintained that Rhodes-Vivour’s petition lacked substantial evidence and legal basis, and they requested the Tribunal to dismiss the case based on the absence of compelling proof and the petitioner’s failure to present a solid case.
