The Supreme Court of Nigeris has reserved judgement in the Appeal filed by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party, and Abdulazeez Adediran, of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the declaration by INEC of Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the elected governor of Lagos state in the March 18, 2023 poll.
The five-man Panel of Justices led by IJustice yang Okoro adjourned after lawyers in the matter made their submissions.
When the matter commenced in the Appeal filed by the Labour Party candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the appellant raised the issue of the Deputy Governor, Femi Hamzat’s non-qualification to run on account of his acquiring United States citizenship.
The appellants are contending that Hamzat was not qualified to have contested the election on such grounds.
In their arguments, Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat informed the apex Court that the present case is different from what was pleaded at the Appeal Court, stating that while what was the argument then was on the deputy’s renunciation of his citizenship, that of now is on his acquisition of US citizenship.
Their counsel, Wole Olanipekun therefore urged the Supreme Court Justices to dismiss the appeal.
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Counsel for the APC agreed with the senior lawyers’ submissions for dismissal of the entire appeal.
On the appeal of Azeez Adediran of the PDP, the governorship candidate is seeking to void the election of Sanwo-Olu on account of presenting an alleged forged WAEC certificate.
But Olanipekun in his counter argument said the Lagos State Governor never forwarded his WAEC certificate to INEC, which would have been the basis on which the appellant could have brought two exhibit copies of the said certificates bearing two different names.
The Supreme Court subsequently reserved judgment after hearing final oral submissions from counsel to both appellants and the defendants.
Meanwhile, the Apex court will on January 9, 2024 hear the appeal filed by the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal which sacked him and declared his closest challenger, Nentawe Goshwe of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the validly elected governor of Plateau State in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.
Tuesday’s proceedings was for report of service of briefs, which the Supreme Court had ordered that hearing notice be served on INEC.
AIT.live notes that the Apex Court has until the 18th of January 2024 to hear and determine the appeal arising from the Plateau State governorship contest.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
