The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed the victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, dismissing the appeal brought by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party.
The unanimous decision, delivered by Justice Inyang Okoro, upheld the judgement of the Court of Appeal Lagos, citing a lack of merit in the appeal.
Court’s decision
The legal battle centered around the eligibility of Governor Sanwo-Olu to contest the Lagos State gubernatorial election held on March 18.
The Labour Party and its candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, questioned Sanwo-Olu’s qualification, alleging that his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, held dual citizenship by acquiring U.S. citizenship, thus making Sanwo-Olu’s candidacy invalid.
Justice Mohammed Garba Lawal, delivering the lead judgement, stated that there was no evidence supporting the claim that Sanwo-Olu’s deputy renounced Nigerian citizenship. The Supreme Court clarified that Section 28 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, does not apply to a Nigerian citizen by birth. The court emphasized that acquiring another citizenship through naturalization does not strip a Nigerian citizen of their rights.
The five-member panel, including Justices Inyang Okoro, Emmanuel Agim, Uwani Abba-Aji, and Adamu Jauro, deemed the petition a gross abuse of court process. The court affirmed the decisions of both the Lagos State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, stating that Sanwo-Olu and his deputy were not disqualified from contesting the governorship election.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s ruling solidifies Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s position as the duly elected Governor of Lagos State, marking a decisive legal victory and settling the questions raised about the eligibility of his candidacy.
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