Lagos Election Tribunal Dismisses Agbaje’s Petition, Upholds Ambode’s Victory

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News From The State, Politics Wednesday, July 1st, 2015

By Niyi Adeyi – The Lagos State Elections Petition Tribunal has dismissed the petition filed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate in the 2015 general elections, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, challenging the winner of the poll and incumbent State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

In their ruling Wednesday, the three-man panel of tribunal led by Justice Muhammad Sirajo, upheld the preliminary objection raised by the defendant’s (Governor Ambode of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), that the petition was incompetent and not substantial.

The Petitioner (Agbaje) had prayed the tribunal to upturn Ambode’s victory and subsequently declared him the winner of the Saturday, April 11, 2015 gubernatorial election.

It would be recalled the State’s INEC Returning Officer, Professor Isaac Adewole, Sunday, April 12, 2015 declared Governor Ambode as the winner of the poll, having secured a total of 811,994 to defeat his main challenger, Agbaje, who polled total of 659,788 votes.

Tribunal: Obasa Congratulates Ambode, Apc; Says Tribunal Verdict Well Deserved

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has described the victory of the Governor of the state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; and the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the state Elections Petitions Tribunal as well deserved.

Speaking with journalists in Lagos after the tribunal verdict, Rt. Hon. Obasa, stated that the tribunal verdict was a further confirmation that indeed the people of the state voted for Ambode and the APC.

“We are happy with the verdict and it was a further proof of the legality of our Governor’s and APC’s victory during the election,” he said.

According to him, Lagosians have always abide themselves with the progressives hence the results of the last elections in the state should not have generated any contention.

“Lagosians have always cast their lots with the progressives, therefore, the results of the elections in the state in which APC symbolised by our Governor and other candidates of the party won convincingly should not have given room for any contention.

“But this is democracy and democracy allows one to challenge elections results which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate have done and the Tribunal has judiciously done its job.

“I’m using this opportunity to congratulate our Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and our great party on this well deserved victory and pray that this particular victory serves harbinger for more victories from the Election Tribunal,” the Lagos Assembly Speaker said.