Supreme Court upholds Sanwo-Olu’s Lagos Victory, Dismisses LP, PDP Appeals

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed the election of Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as Governor of Lagos State, dismissing appeals filed by the Labour Party (LP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

In a unanimous judgment delivered by Justices Lawal Garba and Adamu Jauro, the five-member panel upheld the March 18, 2023, election results that declared Sanwo-Olu the winner. Both Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the LP and Abdulazeez Adediran (Jandor) of the PDP had challenged Sanwo-Olu’s victory, citing alleged irregularities, malpractices, non-compliance, and questions surrounding the deputy governor’s eligibility.

HE. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor Lagos State

Their main contention was that the deputy governor’s past US citizenship disqualified him from holding office, rendering Sanwo-Olu’s entire candidacy invalid. However, the Supreme Court, echoing the previous decisions of the tribunal and Court of Appeal, ruled that acquiring a foreign citizenship does not automatically disqualify a Nigerian citizen by birth from holding elective office. Justice Lawal clarified that only renunciation of Nigerian citizenship can nullify one’s electoral eligibility.

Consequently, the court dismissed both appeals as lacking merit, solidifying Sanwo-Olu’s victory and cementing his position as the governor of Lagos State.

Written by Boom RadioNG