The State and National Appeal Court sitting in Lagos has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the Labour Party and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the re-election of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The case, which revolves around the eligibility of the governor and his deputy, Dr. Kadiri Hamzat, has taken a significant turn in the ongoing legal battle.
The Labour Party candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, and Abdulazeez Adediran of the PDP are challenging the September 25 ruling of the election tribunal, which upheld the March 18 re-election of Sanwo-Olu.During the appeal hearing, Lead Justice Yargata Nimpar reserved judgment after listening to the arguments presented by both parties.
Justice Nimpar indicated that the date for the final judgment would be communicated to the involved parties.
The crux of the appeal centers on the interpretation of Section 182(1)(a) of the Constitution, which pertains to the disqualification of Governor Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Kadiri Hamzat. Counsel to the Labour Party, Mr. Benson Olagbade, argued that the tribunal had erred in its judgment, and he urged the court to set aside the tribunal’s decision.
Olagbade contended that the burden of proof regarding Hamzat’s specific oath of allegiance and his renunciation of citizenship should not rest on the appellant....[CONTINUE READING HERE ▶▶]
He emphasized the need for a comprehensive interpretation of the law in this matter.
In response, Mr. Wole Olanipeku (SAN), counsel to Governor Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, urged the court to dismiss the appeal.
Olanipeku emphasized that the issue of dual citizenship, raised by the appellant, had not been presented before the tribunal.
He asserted that the tribunal had already ruled that the purported oath of allegiance to a foreign country was not before it, leading to its exclusion from consideration.
The appeals court is now set to deliberate on this significant case, and the final judgment will determine the fate of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s re-election.
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