Tight security at Lagos court ahead of tribunal judgment on guber election

There is heavy presence of security personnel at the Roseline Omotosho courthouse in Ikeja, as the  Lagos governorship election tribunal prepares to deliver judgment on the suits challenging the victory of Babajide Sanwo-Olu in the March 18 poll.

Lawyers, journalists and litigants are being screened by security operatives at the main entrance of the courthouse.

A number of people were denied entry to the court premises.

Sanwo-Olu polled 762,134 votes to defeat his closest rival, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP) who secured 312,329 votes.

Abdul-Azeez Adediran, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), came third with 62,449 votes; Funmilayo Kupoluyi, candidate of APM, polled 884; while Abiola Adeyemi, APP candidate, garnered 259 votes.

PRAYERS OF PETITIONERS

APM and APP withdrew their petitions.

Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, and Rhodes-Vivour are asking the tribunal to annul Sanwo-Olu’s election.

In his petition, Jandor alleged that the governor presented a forged West African School Certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Adediran also accused Obafemi Hamzat, the deputy governor, of not including oath declaration in the INEC Nomination Form EC9.

He added that APC did not comply with the Electoral Act when nominating Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat.

In his petition, Rhodes-Vivour challenged the eligibility of Hamzat to contest on the grounds that he allegedly renounced his Nigerian citizenship and swore allegiance to the US.

The petitioners also alleged that the governorship election in Lagos was fraught with irregularities.