The Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Babajide Sanwolu as the validly elected governor of Lagos State.
The five man panel led by Justice Inyang Okoro dismissed the appeal filed by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party, challenging the dual citizenship of the deputy governor of Lagos state Femi Hamzat, while citing section 182(1a) and 28 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
The apex court noted that Hamzat acquiring United States citizenship, does not jeopardize his chances of running for office.
The court held that the appeal is a gross abuse of court process as no Constitution removes or strips anyone that is a Nigerian by birth of his citizenship acquired from any country, except the individual renounces his citizenship which ought to be vetted by the President of the country.
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The Supreme Court also dismissed the appeal of Azeez Adediran of the PDP, seeking to void the election of Sanwo-Olu on account of owning a forged WAEC certificate, on grounds that it’s a pre-election matter and as such has become academic.
Sanwo-Olu polled a total of 762134, votes to defeat his closest, Labour Party, LP Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and Olajide Adediran of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
LP. polled 312329 votes while PDP. 62449 votes.
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
