The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Ikeja has granted an ex-parte application brought by Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party’s governorship candidate, for a substituted service of his petition on the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Rhodes-Vivour filed the petition on April 9, challenging the outcome of the March 18, 2023, governorship election. He claimed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wrongly declared Sanwo-Olu as the winner. At the tribunal’s sitting, Rhodes-Vivour’s counsel, Olagbade Benson, pointed out that Sanwo-Olu had been evading service of the petition by the bailiff. The tribunal ordered that the Governor and his Deputy be served through a recognized courier service company at Lagos House, Marina.

In his 271-page petition filed before the Tribunal on April 9, Rhodes-Vivour stated that Sanwo-Olu was not qualified to contest the election and was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast. He also alleged that the election was invalid due to corrupt practices or non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the Constitution.

Additionally, Rhodes-Vivour claimed that Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, who denounce his allegiance to Nigeria and is still a citizen of the USA, allowed himself to be nominated as the deputy governorship candidate, contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2020.

Rhodes-Vivour listed three grounds for his petition, stating that the election was vitiated by substantial non-compliance with mandatory statutory requirements and irregularities that affected the elections in some polling wards, wards, and local government areas. He also claimed that the failure of INEC to comply with the mandatory provisions of the Electoral Act 2020 and other guidelines impugns irredeemably the integrity of the Lagos Governorship elections of March 18, 2023. Rhodes-Vivour contended that due to the disqualification of both men, all votes recorded for them and the APC are wasted, and he is, therefore, entitled to be declared the winner of the election.