Appeal Court Reserves Judgment In Rhodes-Vivour, Jandor’s Appeals

Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal has reserved judgment in the appeals filed by the governorship candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour and that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor against the victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The three-man panel of the appellate court presided over by Justice Yargata Nimpar reserved the judgment after all the parties argued and adopted their processes.

Other members of the panel are Justice Samuel Bola and Justice Paul Bassi.

Rhodes-Vivour and Jandor  urged the appellate court in their separate appeals to dismiss the judgment of the Lagos State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal and declare them the winner of the election held on March 18, 2023.

The tribunal had on September 25, 2023, affirmed the re-election of Governor Sanwo-Olu and his deputy Obafemi Hamzat.

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The respondents are the Independent National Electoral Commission,  Sanwo-Olu,  Hamzat and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Jandor and the PDP listed Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat, APC, Rhodes-Vivour and the Labour Party as respondents in his  appeal.

While adopting his client processes, Rhodes-Vivour’s lawyer, Olagbade Benson, urged the court to allow the appeal and set aside the decision of the tribunal and grant the reliefs sought.

Benson urged the court to interpret Section 182 (1) (a) of the Constitution and its implication to the qualification of the governor and his deputy

But counsel to Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), asked the court to dismiss the appeal, contending that the dual citizenship argued by the appellant was never presented before the tribunal.

He stated that what was argued before the Tribunal was an allegation that Hamzat placed an allegiance to a foreign country. However, they are now presenting a case of dual citizenship; they believe this is a trial court.

“We urge your Lordship to dismiss this appeal,” he said.