‘It strengthens confidence in judiciary’ — Sanwo-Olu speaks on s’court verdict

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the governor of Lagos, says the supreme court verdict affirming his election has buoyed his confidence in the nation’s judiciary. 

On Friday, a five-member panel of the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election.

The apex court also dismissed the petition filed by Abdulazeez Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, who was candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the vote.

Rhodes-Vivour had contended that Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of Lagos, was not qualified to be sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC), having renounced his Nigerian citizenship and taken up that of the US.

However, the court held that there is no credible evidence to show that the deputy governor renounced his Nigerian citizenship.

Thereafter, the duo of Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat were affirmed as duly elected.

Speaking after the judgment, the governor said the judicial victory will spur his administration to continue on the trajectory of progress and infrastructural development that he has commenced in the state. 

“Today’s judicial pronouncements, like those of the Lagos state governorship election petition tribunal and the court of appeal in Lagos, have buoyed our confidence in the country’s judicial system. We do not take it for granted,” he said.

“I commend the judges for the well-thought-out and detailed judgment. They explained the reasons that led them to their conclusions today.

“We thank the supreme court judges, as well as the Lagos state governorship election petition tribunal and the court of appeal judges for their firm commitment to the principle of fairness and justice.

“The ruling of the supreme court has ended the judicial process on the governorship election.

“The judgment will now allow us to accelerate our interventions to ensure that we continue to deliver more dividends of democracy to our citizens.” 

Sanwo-Olu was first elected Lagos governor in 2019. He secured a second term in office in 2023.