Lagos Gov’ship Election Petition: INEC To Open Defence Today As Rhodes-Vivour Closes His Case
Kemisola Oye
THE Lagos State Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in the 18 March 2023 election Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour on Tuesday closed his case before the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
Mr Rhodes-Vivour is challenging the declaration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the winner of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He is also challenging the eligibility of the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hazmat to contest on the ground that he allegedly renounced his Nigerian citizenship and swore allegiance to the United States of America.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the Petitioner’s counsel, Idowu Benson, informed the three-member Tribunal headed by Justice Arum Ashom that the Petitioner was closing his case. Ten witnesses in all had testified in the petition of the LP candidate.
The counsel also tendered a Certified True Copy of the INEC Form EC9 – an affidavit containing the particulars of a candidate- which was hand filled by Mr Hamzat and had been frontloaded by the counsel to the 4th Respondent (the All Progressives Congress) before the Tribunal.
All the counsel to the four Respondents objected to the admissibility of the document tendered by the Petitioner.
Norrison Quakers (SAN) who represents the APC said the CTC tendered by the Petitioner was warehoused by the First Respondent (the Independent National Electoral Commission) and does not form part of the court records.
He said, “It is not a document before this Tribunal, it is only a document signed by INEC that can be tendered. We will further argue on why this document should not be admitted in our final written address.”
After hearing the objections raised by the Respondents, Justice Ashon admitted the document and marked it as exhibit PE713.
Upon the close of the Petitioner’s case, the First Respondent’s counsel, Eric Obigor applied for a date to open their defense.
He said, “We will be taking a date to open our case and commend the Petitioner for closing its case even though it was unexpected.”
Counsel for Governor Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Bode Olanipekun (SAN), also commended the Petitioner for closing its case whilst stating that they should have taken the wise retreat earlier.
The Tribunal adjourned till 5th July 2023 (today) for INEC to open its defence.
Eighteen-Eleven Media
