Tribunal Disqualifies Labour Party, Rhodes-Vivour’s Witness Against Sanwo-Olu, Gives Reason

• Labour Party's governorship candidate during the 2023 elections in Lagos state, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has lost his witness who was to testify against Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
• The Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal said Rhodes-Vivour's witness, Erastus Ofoma's statement on oath was uploaded after the 21 days stipulated by law
• Ofoma was presented by Rhodes-Vivour’s lawyer, Dr Olumide Ayeni as a subpoenaed witness to testify against Sanwo-Olu's victory

The Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, on Thursday, June 15, disqualified Erastus Ofoma, a witness subpoenaed by Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, to testify against Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

According to PM News, the Chairman of the three-man tribunal committee, Justice Arum Igyen-Ashom, held that Ofoma’s statement on oath was uploaded outside the 21 days stipulated under the Electoral Act.

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The tribunal ruled on the matter after taking submissions from counsels representing parties in the petition.

Rhodes-Vivour’s representative, Dr Olumide Ayeni, had informed the tribunal of his intention to call the subpoenaed witness, Ofoma, stating that the witness had deposed to his statement on oath and served the respondents.

While Eric Obigor, representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), confirmed service, Sanwo-Olu’s lawyer, Bode Olanipekun (SAN), and the APC’s counsel, Morrison Quakers (SAN), opposed the application.

Olanipekun and Quakers argued that Ofoma was not one of the witnesses in the list that accompanied the petition.

Sanwo-Olu’s counsel, Olanipekun, said there was no indication on the list that any witness would be subpoenaed to appear before the tribunal.

He further stated that an objection was taken to evidence being deposed outside the 21 days permitted to present the petition.

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APC vs LP: Anxiety as tribunal set to give verdict on Gbadebo’s petition against Sanwo-Olu in Lagos

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the Lagos State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal is expected to give a verdict on whether or not the petition filed by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the candidate of the Labour Party in the March 18 election, is competent to be heard or not.

Justice Arum Ashom, the chairman of the tribunal, said the verdict would be given on Friday, June 2 after submission from counsels on the matter.

Tribunal strikes out petitions challenging strong APC governor’s election victory

Legit.ng had also reported that 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.

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

Source: Legit.ng