BREAKING: Tribunal Strikes Out Petitions Challenging Strong APC Governor’s Election Victory

BREAKING: Tribunal Strikes Out Petitions Challenging Strong APC Governor’s Election Victory

  • The petitions filed by the Allied Peoples’ Movement and Action Peoples Party against the election victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy has been dismissed
  • The Lagos state election tribunal headed by Justice Arum Ashom on Wednesday, May 24, dismissed the petitions following their withdrawal by the parties
  • Counsel to the two parties, Henry Bello and Francis Ese, respectively, had told the tribunal that their clients decided to withdraw the petitions, noting they lost interest in the petition

The Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, on Wednesday, May 24, dismissed the petitions filed by the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM and the Action Peoples Party (APP) against the victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, in the March 18 governorship election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are other respondents to the petitions, The Punch report confirmed.

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Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos state election petition tribunal, APM, APP, 2023 election, March 18 poll
Lagos tribunal dismisses petitions challenging Sanwo-Olu's re-election victory. Photo credit: Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Source: Facebook

Tribunal strikes out petitions against Sanwo-Olu's re-election victory

The petitions were dismissed by the chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Arum Ashom after the petitioners withdrew them, Channels TV report added.

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APM and APP through their lawyers, Henry Bello and Francis Ese, respectively notified the Tribunal that their clients no longer had an interest in pursuing the petitions.

The petitioners, in their suits, argued that the governor-elect, Sanwo-Olu and his deputy were not qualified to contest for the election, adding that INEC also failed to adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.

Sanwo-Olu dissolves cabinet ahead of May 29 inauguration

Legit.ng reported earlier that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state has dissolved his cabinet ahead of his swearing-in ceremony on May 29, 2023.

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Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, will be sworn in for a second term of four years on Monday, May 29.

The Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, made the announcement on Wednesday, May 24 through a circular with No. 046.

Tribunal overrules Tinubu, APC, gives verdict on Atiku, Obi, APM’s petitions

In another development, the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has consolidated the three petitions filed by Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP), and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

In a pre-hearing report issued and read by Justice Haruna Tsammani on Tuesday, May 23, the five-member panel of the court ordered the commencement of hearing in the petition by Obi and the LP on May 30.

The court also directed that the petitioners conduct their case within three weeks, during which it should call its planned 50 witnesses, beginning from May 30, and close in on June 23.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Esther Odili avatar

Esther Odili (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Esther Odili is a journalist and a Politics/Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng with 6+ years of experience. Before joining Legit.ng, Esther has worked with other reputable media houses, such as the New Telegraph newspaper and Galaxy Television. She Holds OND and HND in Mass Communication from NIJ, where she was recognized as the best student in print journalism in 2018. Email: esther.odili@corp.legit.ng.