Court Upholds Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Election, Dismisses PDP, Jandor’s Petition

The Lagos State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal has ruled in favor of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s victory, dismissing the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Olajide Adediran.

The unanimous decision was delivered by Justice Mikail Abdullahi on behalf of the three-man panel.

The tribunal first addressed preliminary objections before considering the main issues. It affirmed its competence and jurisdiction to hear the petition, which had challenged the validity of Sanwo-Olu and his deputy Obafemi Hamzat’s nomination by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the election. The tribunal clarified that this was a pre-election matter unrelated to the election’s conduct.

Regarding the alleged forged certificate presented by Governor Sanwo-Olu, the tribunal noted that the petitioner, Jandor, did not attend the school mentioned on the certificate and did not call the school’s principal or staff as witnesses.

Ultimately, the tribunal concluded that the petition lacked merit and affirmed Sanwo-Olu’s election as the duly elected governor of Lagos state. The parties were instructed to bear their own costs.

The tribunal will reconvene to deliver judgment on the petition of the Labour Party (LP).