Tribunal dismisses APM, APP’s petitions against Sanwo-Olu’s re-election

The Lagos governorship election petition tribunal has dismissed two petitions contesting the re-election of Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of the state.

The three-man tribunal led by Arum Ashom, a judge, on Wednesday, struck out the petitions filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and All Peoples Party (APP).

The petitions were dismissed after they were withdrawn by the parties involved.

At the tribunal, Henry Bello, counsel to APM, said the motion for withdrawal was predicated on four grounds and supported by the two affidavits deposed by Yusuf Dantalle, the party’s chairman.

“Our candidate has lost interest in the petition and has proceeded to congratulate the second respondent,” he said.

On his part, Francis Eze, counsel to APP, said Okey Nwosu, the chairman of the party, directed that the petition should be withdrawn against Sanwo-Olu.

Ayuba Kawu, counsel to Sanwo-Olu, Abiodun Owonikoko, counsel to All Progressive Congress (APC) and John Baiyeshe, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not oppose the motions.

In separate petitions, APM and APP had said Sanwo-Olu and Obafemi Hamzat, his deputy, were not qualified to contest the election and that INEC failed to comply with the provisions of the electoral act and the 1999 constitution (as amended).

On March 20, INEC declared Sanwo-Olu as the winner of the Lagos governorship election.

Sanwo-Olu polled 762,134 votes to win the election for a second term of four years.

The Labour Party (LP) came second with 312,329 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trailed in third place with 62,449 votes.